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NORTH  CAROLINA f!l!||J|i 

GEOLOGICAL  AND  '■ 
ECONOMIC  SURViP 

JOSEPH  HYDE  PRATT,  STATE  GEOLOGIST 


ECONOMIC  PAPER  NO.  22 


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Cullen  E.    Whitley 


RESOURCES 
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^tPARTMENT 


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DEPARTMENT  Of 
.CONSERVATION  AND  DEVaOPMB^- 


This  book  is  due  on  the  date  indicated 
below  and  is  subject  to  an  overdue 
fme  as  posted  at  the  circulation  desk. 


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earlier  if  this  item  is  RECALLED. 


NATURAL 


RESOURCES 


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150M/01-92— 941680 


GEOLOGY  DEPAHT 
^3.  C.  STATE  COLI 


NORTH  CAROLINA  GEOLOGICAL  AND  ECONOMIC  SURVEY 
JOSEPH  HYDK  PRATT,  State  Geologist 


ECONOMIC  PAPER  No.  22 


Forest  Fires  and  Their  Prevention 


INCLVDINC 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA 
DURING  1910 


J.  S.  HOLMES,  Forester 


RALEIGH 

Edwards  &  Brodqhton  Printing  Compaxt,  State  Printers 

1911 


GEOLOGICAL  BOARD 


Governor  W.  W.  Kitchix,  ex  officio  Chairman Raleigh 

Fra.nk  R.   Hewitt Asheville 

Hugh  MacRae Wilmington 

R.  D.  Caldwell Lumberton 

M.  R.  BuAswELL Rocky  Mount 


Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist Chapel  Hill 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL 


Chapel  Hill,  ^^.  C,  August  1,  1911. 

To  His  Excellency,  Honorable  W.  W.  Kitchin, 

Governor  of  North  Carolina. 
SiK : — I  herewith  submit  for  i^ublication  as  Economic  Paper  22  of 
the  reports  of  the  Xorth  Carolina  Geological  and  Economic  Survey  a 
report  on  Forest  Fires  and  their  Prevention,  including  statistics  regard- 
ing Forest  Fires  in  J^Torth  Carolina  during  1910,  which  has  been  pre- 
pared bj  Mr.  J.  S.  Holmes,  Forester  to  the  Survey.  The  statistics  are 
more  complete  and  accurate  than  those  collected  for  1909  and  mora 
intelligent  answers  were  received  from  inquiries  during  this  second  year 
of  collection.  Yours  respectfully, 

Joseph  Hyde  Pkatt, 

State  Geologist. 


^_^^-«2.- 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

Introduction   9 

The  Weather  in    1910 10 

Tabular  Statement   10 

Summary  of  Reports  from  Correspondents  by  Regions  for  1910  and  1909. 

(Table   1.)    11 

Coastal  Plain  Region   (Table  2) 12 

Pie.lmont  Region  ( Table  3 ) 14 

Mountain  Region    ( Table  4 ) 16 

Analysis  of  Tables. 

Comparative    Statement    of    Averages    by    Regions    for    1910    and     1909. 

(Table  5.)    17 

Number  of  Fires 17 

Area  Burnt  Over   17 

Merchantable  Timber  Destroyed   18 

Forest  Prodijcts  Destroyed  18 

Improvements  Destroyed 18 

Number  of  Lives  Lost 18 

Cost  to  Fight  Fires 19 

Loss  FROM  Fires  Not  Included  in  Tables 19 

Causes  of  Forest  Fires 20 

Tabular  Statement  of  Causes  in  Percentages  (Table  6) 21 

Preventive  and  Protective  Measures   22 

Private  Measures   22 

Co-operative  Associations   2.3 

Associations  Chiefly  Educational   24 

Associations  Chiefly  Protective   24 

State  Measures   25 

Present  Laws 2.5 

Proposed  Laws 25 

To  Control  Fires  Set  by  Private  Individuals 28 

To  Control  Railroad  Fires   29 

To  Organize  a  Fire  Warden  System 31 

National  Measures  33 

Co-operation  L'nder  the  W^eks  Bill 33 

Educational  Measures  34 

Arbor  Day   35 

Teaching  Forestry  in  the  Public  Schools 37 

Teaching  Forestry  in  the  Colleges 39 

Lectures  at  Farmer's  Institutes,  etc 39 

Forestrj-  Associations    40 

Demonstration  Forests 42 

Conclusion    42 


FOREST  FIRES  AND  THEIR  PREVENTION 


By  J.  S.  Holmes. 


IMBODICTIOX. 


During  1909  the  United  States  forest  Service  attempted  to  collect 
uniform  data  on  the  prevalence  and  destructiveness  of  forest  fires  iu  all 
the  various  States.  The  !N"orth  Carolina  Geological  and  Economic  Sur- 
vey co-operated  with  the  Forest  Service  in  this  work  in  this  State,  and 
got  together  some  very  interesting  figures.  Though  admittedly  incom- 
plete, these  "were  published  by  the  State  Survey  in  Economic  Paper  Xo. 
19,  "Forest  Fires  in  Xorth  Carolina  During  1909."  This  publication 
has  been  scattered  widely  through  the  State,  and  is  still  available  for 
distribution.  It  should  be  read  in  connection  with  the  present  report 
in  order  to  best  understand  the  application  of  the  figures  and  to  obtain 
much  information  which  it  was  thought  best  not  to  repeat. 

Owing  to  the  failure  of  many  of  the  States  to  obtain  sufficient  reliable 
information,  the  general  fire  study  of  the  Forest  Service,  which  was  in- 
tended to  be  annual  and  permanent,  has  been  discontinued.  The  Xorth 
Carolina  Geological  and  Economic  Survey  then  had  to  decide  as  to 
the  advisability  of  continuing  the  collection  of  these  figures  unaided. 
Though  the  data  collected  last  year  was  far  from  satisfactory,  still  it 
was  thought  that  the  economic  and  educational  value  of  such  figures 
was  great  enough  to  warrant  the  expense  of  collecting  them.  With  the 
hope,  therefore,  of  increasing  their  accuracy  and  broadening  their 
influence,  the  Survey  determined  to  continue  the  collection  of  this  infor- 
mation in  regard  to  the  annual  destruction  by  forest  fires. 

Accordingly,  as  soon  as  the  year  closed,  question  blanks  were  sent 
out  to  about  eight  hundred  correspondents  in  all  parts  of  the  State, 
together  with  a  stamped  envelope  for  reply.  These  forms  contained  the 
same  questions  that  were  asked  last  year,  but,  in  order  to  make  the 
replies  more  definite  and  accurate,  the  correspondents  were  asked  to 
confine  their  figures  to  one  or  more  specified  townships,  and  not  try  to 
estimate  for  the  whole  county.  This  method  has  succeeded  much  better 
even  than  was  expected.  Xo  correspondent  attempted  to  answer  for 
more  than  one  or  at  the  most,  two  townships,  and,  as  a  consequence,  the 
figures  included  in  this  report,  though  attempting  to  represent  an  even 
smaller  part  of  the  State  than  last  year,  are,  it  is  thought,  considerably 
more  accurate.     Still  it  must  not  be  forgotten  that  all  figures  given  are 


10  Forest  Fires  and  their  Prevextion. 

estimates,  and  sonietiiues  only  very  rough  estimates  at  that,  as  it  would 
have  been  impossible  to  obtain  definite  figures  without  an  immense 
amount  of  trouble  and  expense. 

THE  WEATHER  I\  1910. 

As  the  condition  of  the  weather,  especially  the  amount  and  local 
distribution  of  the  precipitation  has  a  great  deal  to  do  with  the  fre- 
quency and  severity  of  forest  fires,  a  brief  review  of  the  weather  condi- 
tions for  1910  will  add  interest  and  value  to  this  report. 

The  past  year  was  notCAVorthy  for  two  quite  severe  droughts,  extend- 
iug  over  the  entire  State,  though  generally  more  severe  in  the  eastern 
part.  The  greatest  deficiency  in  precipitation  occurred  in  March,  the 
rainfall  for  that  month  being  less  than  for  any  previous  March  for 
which  there  are  any  records.  Practically  no  rain  fell  after  March 
12th.  This  droughty  condition,  which  lasted  up  to  the  middle  of  April, 
and  was  accompanied  by  high  Avinds,  made  the  danger  from  forest  fires 
very  great.  Destructive  fires  broke  out  in  many  counties  before  the  end 
of  March  and  continued  with  increasing  frequency  and  severity  up  to 
the  middle  of  April,  when  a  general  rain  restored  normal  conditions. 
June  was  a  Avet  month,  the  rainfall  all  over  the  State  being  markedly  in 
excess  of  the  normal.  HeaA-y  summer  rains  continued  at  intervals  until 
September,  Avhen  dry  Aveather  again  commenced,  though  in  the  moun- 
tains rain  fell  generally  until  October.  The  fall  drought  lasted  until 
December  3d.  November  Avas  very  dry,  only  about  one-fourth  of  the 
normal  rainfall  occurring  over  the  Avliole  State.  Very  seA'ere  fires 
occurred  during  this  season,  both  in  the  mountains  and  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  State.  Altogether,  the  year  1910  showed  a  slightly  greater 
rainfall  than  the  previous  year,  though  a  little  less  than  the  normal 
amount   of  precipitation  Avas  recorded. 

TABULAR  STATEMENT. 

The  folloAving  tables  have  been  compiled  from  the  information  fur- 
nished by  voluntary  correspondents  all  over  the  State.  There  Avas  only 
one  county  AA'hich  did  not  send  in  any  report,  and  most  counties  AA^ere 
represented  by  three  or  four  correspondents.  This,  it  is  realized,  is  quite 
insufficient  to  get  complete  reports,  but  it  is  enough  to  give  some  idea 
of  the  magnitude  of  the  loss  Avhich  is  yearly  experienced,  and  this,  it 
must  be  remembered,  is  the  chief  object  of  these  tables.  It  is  hoped 
that  another  year  the  number  of  voluntary  correspondents  may  be 
greatly  increased,  thereby  enabling  the  Survey  to  publish  much  more 
complete  figures. 


Forest  Fires  axd  their  Prea'extion.  11 


TABLE   1.— FOREST   FIRES   IN    XORTH    CAROLINA    DURING    1910.    COMPARATIVE 
STATEMENT.     SUMMARY    OF    REPORTS    FROM    CORRESPONDENTS    BY 
REGIONS,  FOR  1910  AND  1909. 

!      Mountain.  Piedmont.         Coastal  Plain.  State. 

1910.        1909.        1910.        1909.        1910.        1909.        1910.        1909. 

Total  number  of  townships  in  region  166 450 364  ___ 980 

Number  of  tcTwnships  reporting-..-  51 146 131 328 

Number  of  replies  received 48            47  142            61  131             50  321           158 

Number  of  forest  fires  reported 1.36           249  258            86  312           272  706           607 

Total  area  burnt  over,  in  acres  ....  80,825    166,295  1.58,948    100,670  .3.39,780    1.39,100  579,553   406,065 

Total  area   growing  merchantable 

timber  burnt  over,  in  acres 64,250    128,145     46,839     77,735    142,010     51.025    253.099    256,905 

Total  area  of  second  growth,  not 
vet  merchantable,  burnt  over, 
in  acres 7,190     13,100     55,712      14. .5.55     78,7.35     27,050    141,637     54,705 

Total  area  of  cut-over  land  burnt 

over,  in  acres 9,385     25,050     56,397       8,380    119.035     61,025    184,817     94,405 

Total  standing  timber  destroved  in 

M. ft.  bd.  measure 6,915     17,325     12,553      11,027     42,550       9,280     62,018     37,632 

Value    of    timber    destroved,    in 

.dollars.— S  25,095  8  47,520S  35,930-5  33,374  §108,995 -S  26, 360  $170, 020  S107, 254 

Value  of  forest  products  destroyed, 

in  dollars -S  28,215$  17,075 -SlOO, 415 -S  39, 425  $129, 545 -S  .30, 245  $258, 175  S  86,745 

Value  of  improvements  destroved, 

in  dollars $  19,375$  26,550$  25,615$  14,750$  .53,805$  17,105$  98,795$  58,405 

Number  of  lives  lost 10  10  3  0  5  0 

Cost  to  private  individuals  to  fight 

fire.... .-..$  13,155$    6,650$  10,503$     1,059$  11,780$    6,355$  35,438$  14,064 


12 


Forest  Fires  and  their  Prevextiox. 


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Forest  Fires  axd  their  Prevextiox.  17 


TABLE  5.— comparative  STATEMENT  OF  AVERAGES  BY  REGIONS  FOR 
1910  AND  1909. 


Mountain. 

Piedmont. 

Coastal  Plain. 

State. 

1910. 

1909. 

1910. 

1909. 

1910. 

1909. 

1910. 

1909. 

Percentage  of  townships  reporting. . 

31 

32 

36 

33.5 

Average  area  of  each  fire,  in  acres.  _ 

594 

668 

616 

1,171 

1,0S9 

511 

821 

667 

Average   damage  bv  each  fire,   in 
dollars 

631 
1.585 

393 

668 
1,089 

1,030 

974 
2,594 

294 

775 
1,805 

439 

Average  area  burnt  over  per  town- 
ship reporting,  in  acres.- 

Average  damage  per  acre,  in  cents. 

1.06 

.59 

1.08 

.88 

.90 

.57 

.97 

.66 

Average  cost  to  fight  fires  per  acre 
burnt  over,  in  cents 

.16 

.04 

.06 

.01 

.03 

.04 

.06 

■  OiVt 

NUMBER  OF  FIRES. 

Of  the  800  blanks  sent  out,  only  320,  or  41  per  cent,  were  filled  out 
and  returned.  Though  these  covered  only  one-third  of  the  townships 
of  the  State,  it  is  probable  that  they  include  the  greater  part  of  the 
more  important  fires,  though  many  other  fires  have  occurred  in  town- 
ships not  reported  on.  This  has  been  ascertained  from  clippings  taken 
from  the  local  press  of  the  State,  which  mention  additional  fires  in  at 
least  ten  counties. 

Xo  doubt  many  fires  also  took  place  in  townships  making  reports 
which  the  correspondents,  owing  to  their  location  in  a  different  part 
of  the  township,  had  not  heard  of. 

From  tables  1,  2,  3,  and  4  it  will  be  seen  that  726  fires  were  reported, 
or  an  average  of  a  little  over  two  fires  to  the  township  reporting.  This 
is  only  slightly  in  excess  of  the  total  number  of  fires  reported  for  1909. 
While  there  were  barely  half  the  number  of  fires  reported  from  the 
mountain  region,  there  were  nearly  three  times  as  many  in  the  Pied- 
mont region  as  were  reported  for  1909.  This  is  probably  due  in  large 
part  to  the  two  droughts,  which  were  so  severe  over  the  eastern  part  of 
the  State,  and  which  were  much  less  felt  in  the  mountains.  The  com- 
paratively small  niunber  of  replies  receiv.ed  from  the  western  part  of 
the  State  might  also  partly  account  for  it. 

AREA  BURNT   OVER. 

About  580,000  acres  of  land  were  reported  burnt  over  during  1910. 
This  is  43  per  cent  in  excess  of  the  amount  burnt  over  last  year.  The 
comparative  freedom  of  the  mountain  counties  from  fires  shows  itself 
in  the  80,000  acres  burnt  over,  which  is  less  than  half  that  was  burnt 
over  in  that  region  in  1909. 
'    2 


18  Forest  Fikes  axd  their  Prevextiox. 

Nearly  half  of  tlie  burnt-over  area  of  the  State  was  supporting  a 
growth  of  merchantable  timber,  though  probably  the  greater  part  of  it 
had  been  culled  to  some  extent.  The  division  of  the  area  into  mer- 
chantable timber,  second  growth,  and  cut-over,  is  only  approximate  and 
can  not  be  taken  as  definite  figures.  Nearly  all  merchantable  timber  in 
the  hardwood  forests  contains  more  or  less  second  growth,  while  a  great 
l^art  of  the  cut-over  lauds  also  contains  much  young  growth.  Such 
figures,  therefore,  can  not  be  accurate,  and  are  of  use  cliieily  in  giving 
some  idea  of  the  damage  done  by  fires. 

MERCHANTABLE   TIMBER    DESTROYED. 

The  amount  of  merchantable  timber  destroyed,  compared  with  the 
area  burnt  over  containing  such  timber,  appears  to  be  very  small.  This 
is  due  to  the  fact  that,  as  a  rule,  mature  timber  is  not  killed  outright  by 
the  ordinary  forest  fires  in  this  State,  unless  the  fire  occurs  in  tlio  late 
spring.  Most  fires,  however,  do  seriously  injure  mature  standing  tim- 
ber, and  often  the  death  of  timber  Avhich  is  attributed  to  insects  is 
really  primarily  caused  by  forest  fires.  In  spite  of  this,  however,  there 
is  a  reported  loss  of  62,000,000  feet  of  merchantable  timber  from  fires. 
This  is  nearly  twice  as  much  as  was  reported  destroyed  in  1909. 

FOREST   PRODUCTS   DESTROYED. 

The  value  of  forest  products  destroyed  in  1910  is  about  three  times 
as  much  as  that  listed  for  1909,  and  amounts  to  over  a  quarter  of  a 
million  dollars.  This  includes  sawlogs,  lumber,  cordwood,  bark,  and 
other  material. 

Although  this  large  item  of  loss  is  no  doul)t  much  below  the  real 
figure,  it  is,  however,  enough  to  make  peoi)le  realize  the  a(lvisal)ility  of 
taking  acti^'e  steps  to  prevent  such  fires. 

I.MPROVK.AIEXTS    DESTROYED. 

Farm  improvements,  chiefly  fences  and  outbuildings,  are  included 
under  tbis  head.  Ninety-eight  thousand  dollars  was  lost  by  the  de- 
struction of  this  class  of  j^i-operty  alone,  niore  than  half  of  it  in  the 
Coastal  Plain  region.  This,  as  will  be  seen  from  Table  1.  is  also  largely 
in  excess  of  that  of  1909. 

LIVES    LOST. 

The  year  1910  will  long  be  remembered  as  one  of  the  most  destruc- 
tive to  life  and  property  from  forest  fires  throughout  the  country.  Dur- 
ing the  month  of  August  scores  of  lives  were  lost  in  the  forest  regions 
of  the  northwestern  States. 


FoKEST  Fires  and  their  Prevention.  19 

-  Though  we  are  apt  to  think  that  our  fires  are  altogether  different 
from  those  in  the  West,  yet  a  loss  of  five  human  lives  through  forest 
fires  occurred  in  North  Carolina  in  1910.  Besides  the  woman  burnt  in 
Cumberland  County,  referred  to  in  last  year's  report,  a  colored  girl 
and  an  old  woman  were  burnt  to  death  in  Columbus  County  while 
trying  to  protect  their  property  from  the  flames.  Two  men  lost  their 
lives  fighting  fire  in  the  western  part  of  the  State,  one  in  Haywood 
County,  and  the  other  one  near  Marion  in  McDowell  County.  Such 
deaths  are  usually  spoken  of  as  accidental,  but  they  are  preventable 
accidents,  for  they  would  not  have  occurred  had  it  not  been  for  the 
criminal  carelessness  of  those  who  let  the  fires  get  out. 

COST    TO    FIGHT    FIRES. 

More  than  $35,000  was  spent  by  private  individuals  and  lumber  com- 
panies in  1910  in  extinguishing  forest  fires,  or  two  and  a  half  times  the 
amount  spent  the  previous  year.  This  does  not  comprise  the  total  cost 
of  fighting  fire  even  in  the  townships  reporting,  for,  as  a  rule,  small 
fires  and  those  on  private  land  are  fought,  when  any  effort  is  made  to 
extinguish  them,  by  the  voluntary  help  of  the  neighbors.  A  glance  at 
the  figures  in  Table  5  shows  that  about  sixteen  cents  per  acre  burnt  over 
was  spent  in  the  Mountain  region  to  fight  fii-es,  while  only  about  three 
cents  per  acre  was  spent  in  the  Coastal  Plain.  This  does  not  mean  that 
the  mountain  people  are  not  willing  to  fight  fire  unless  paid  for  it,  for 
they  are  just  as  ready  as  any  one  else  to  assist  their  neighbors  in  such 
emergencies.  It  means  that  the  lumber  companies  and  other  timberland 
o^^aiers  of  that  region  are  more  alive  to  the  destruction  caused  by  fire 
than  those  of  the  Coastal  Plain  region.  This  is  partly  because  many 
owners  of  mature  timber  in  eastern  North  Carolina  still  burn  to  protect 
their  timber  from  more  destructive  conflagrations,  but  chiefly  because 
many  of  the  eastern  lumbermen  own  the  timber  without  the  land,  and 
so  have  no  interest  in  protecting  the  young  growth,  while  those  in  the 
Mountain  region  usually  own  both  land  and  timber  and  are  anxious 
to  keep  fire  out.  It  is  an  encouraging  sign  that  while  twice  as  much 
was  spent  in  1910  in  fighting  fires  in  the  mountains  as  Avas  spent  in 
l909,  only  half  as  great  an  area  Avas  burnt  over.  While  the  weather 
was  in  part  responsible  for  this  there  is  no  doubt  that  the  increasing 
watchfulness  and  effort  on  the  part  of  landowners  is  bringing  results. 

LOSS   FROM   FIRE   NOT   INCLUDED   IN   THE   TABLES. 

A  loss  of  considerably  over  $500,000  in  one-third  of  the  townships  of 
the  State  seems  a  large  sum,  and  yet  it  is  far  from  representing  the 


20  Forest  Fires  and  their  Prevention. 

entire  damage,  even  of  the  fires  that  were  reported.  The  injurv  to  tlic 
standing  timber  which  is  not  killed  is  often  just  as  heavy  as  that  caused 
hy  the  destruction  of  the  trees. 

The  damage  done  to  young  growth  and  reproduction  is  usually  con- 
siderably greater  than  that  done  to  the  mature  timber,  but  as  it  is  in 
most  cases  difficult  to  put  a  cash  value  on  this  young  growth,  because 
it  has  no  sale  value,  it  is  usually  left  out  of  all  estimates  of  damage. 
There  is  now,  however,  a  tendency  to  take  into  account  the  young 
growth  destroyed  by  a  fire,  as  is  evidenced  by  two  correspondents;  one 
in  the  mountains,  Avho  estimated  a  loss  of  $5  per  acre  in  the  destruction 
of  young  growth;  the  other  on  the  coast,  who  put  down  a  loss  of  $1,000 
in  young  growth,  caused  by  burning  over  500  acres  of  land.  These, 
which  are  no  doubt  very  conservative  estimates,  go  to  show  that  some 
landoAvners  are  realizing  the  loss  to  the  future  forest  that  is  taking 
place.  Xext  year  an  attempt  will  be  made  by  the  Survey  to  get  corre- 
spondents to  include  damage  to  young  growth  by  furnishing  question 
blanks  with  a  space  for  this  purpose.* 

The  gradual  killing  out  and  disappearance  from  the  forest  of  such 
valuable  species  as  poj)lar,  white  pine,  and  chestnut,  and  the  substitution 
for  them  of  the  inferior,  though  more  fire-resistant  kinds,  means  a  seri- 
ous loss  to  the  landowner  which  will  be  appreciated  more  thoroughly  by 
the  next  generation  because  the  change  is  comparatively  slow.  Such  a 
loss  is  hard  to  estimate  for  any  one  year,  but  it  will  manifest  itself  in 
the  gradual  decline  in  the  value  of  the  propcj-ty. 

The  gradual,  though  certain,  impoverishment  of  the  soil  through  the 
constant  burning  of  the  leaves,  causes  great  loss  in  the  value  of  the  land 
on  which  the  forest  is  growing.  This  loss  shows  itself  in  the  slower 
growth  of  the  trees  and  in  the  decline  in  value  of  the  land  for  agricul- 
tural purposes. 

The  washing  of  the  soil  by  the  rains  is  one  of  the  forms  of  (hiniaui' 
caused  by  forest  fires.  The  coating  of  leaves  ])rotects  tlie  top  soil,  and 
when  this  is  removed  the  rains  rush  oft"  to  tlie  streams,  removing  the 
surface  soil,  and  filling  up  tlie  sireambeds  wi'li  silt  and  sand,  thereby 
damaging  the  land  and  seriously  interfering  with  the  navigability  of 
the  streams. 

CAUSES  OF  FOREST  FIUES. 

The  principal  causes  of  forest  fires,  as  given  by  the  various  corre- 
spondents for  their  own  townships,  have  been  compiled  and  are  given  in 
percentages  in  Table  6. 


•Damage  to  young  growth  from  forest  fires  is  discussed  pretty  fully  in  Economic  Paper  10,  "Forest 
Fires  in  North  Carolina  During  1909,"  page  25. 


Forest  Fires  and  their  Prevention. 


21 


TABLE  6.— CAUSES  OF  FOREST  FIRES  IN  THE  DIFFERENT  REGIONS  OF  NORTH 
CAROLINA  IN  1910,  IN  PERCENTAGES. 


1910. 

1909. 

Moun- 
tain 

Pied- 
mont. 

Coastal. 

State. 

State. 

8 
2 

23 
6 
5 

13 
3 

7 
6 
2 
22 
27 
15 
2 

13 
6 
3 
20 
20 
9 
5 

1 
3 

10 

16 

3 

11 

18 
8 

15 

17 

5 

10 
3 

1 
1 

3 

1 
3 

1 

8 

4 

2 

13 
16 
16 

2 
9 

13 

Malice  or  incendiary 

Unknown  causes.. 

6 
4 

8 

4 

7 

This  table  shows  that  over  three-fourths  of  the  fires  reported  from  all 
over  the  State  were  thought  to  be  uuiutentioual.  Forty-two  per  cent 
of  all  the  replies  given  by  correspondents  can  be  classified  under  the 
head  of  individual  carelessness,  which  is  practically  the  same  figure  as 
was  obtained  last  year.  In  the  Piedmont  region,  however,  where  burn- 
ing to  improve  the  range  is  practically  eliminated  as  a  cause  of  fires, 
fifty-seven  per  cent  of  the  correspondents  attributed  the  fires  to  indi- 
vidual carelessness.  Farmers  burning  brush,  grass,  stumps,  and  rubbish 
are  said  to  be  responsible  for  about  one-third  of  these  "individual"  fires, 
while  probably  a  majority  of  those  attributed  to  general  carelessness 
should  come  under  this  head.  This  is  by  far  the  most  frequent  cause 
of  fires  originating  from  the  individual.  More  care  in  the  setting  of 
such  fires,  and  watching  them  till  they  are  burned  out  and  harmless, 
would  prevent  many  of  the  most  serious  and  destructive  fires. 

Sparks  from  engines  is  a  very  fertile  cause  of  forest  fires,  over  one- 
third  of  the  correspondents  giving  this  as  the  principal  cause  in  1910. 
Railroad  and  logging  locomotives  are  the  chief  offenders,  twenty-nine 
per  cent  of  all  the  correspondents  accusing  them.  This  is  considerably 
more  than  fell  to  their  share  in  1909.  These  railroad  fires  are  in  large 
part  preventable,  and  as  soon  as  property  owners  along  the  lines  of  rail- 
roads unite  in  demanding  protection,  it  can  be  secured. 


22  Forest  Fires  and  their  Prevention. 

According  to  tlie  above  table,  intentional  fires  are  most  frequent  in 
the  Mountain  region,  where  thirty-seven  per  cent  are  said  to  be  pur- 
posely set.  This  is  a  large  proportion,  though  it  is  an  improvement  over 
the  report  for  the  previous  year,  which  showed  that  in  the  mountains 
nearly  half  the  fires  were  set  on  purpose.  This  large  number  of  inten- 
tional fires  is  in  part  due  to  the  destructive  habit  of  burning  the  woods 
to'  "improve  the  range"  for  loose  cattle,  which  ought  to  be  confined  to 
their  owner's  land,  and  in  part  to  an  unfortunate  feeling  of  antagonism 
in  some  localities  against  large  landowners  who  are  trying  to  protect 
their  forests.  The  large  increase  in  malicious"  or  incendiary  fires  all 
over  the  State  is  a  regrettable  feature  of  the  1910  figures  and  one  tliat 
is  not  easy  to  explain.  It  indicates  very  clearly,  however,  tliat  more 
stringent  laws  and  better  law  enforcement  are  needed  in  order  to  check 
this  nuisance. 

PREVENTIVE  A>D  PROTECTIVE  MEASURES. 

We  have  in  Xorth  Carolina  a  reported  loss  from  forest  fires  in  1910 
of  $560,000.  This  report  covers  only  one-third,  of  the  townships  of  the 
State,  and  does  not  include  injury  to  standing  timber,  damaged,  but  not 
killed ;  to  young  growth ;  to  soil  and  streams  by  any  of  the  fires.  There 
can  be  little  doubt,  therefore,  that  the  total  loss  through  forest  fires  in 
]^orth  Carolina  during  1910  amounted  to  at  least  a  million  dollars.  In 
addition  to  this  there  was  very  serious  loss  of  life  from  the  same  cause. 
Is  it  not  time  that  North  Carolina  as  a  State,  and  we  as  individuals, 
took  some  steps  to  abate  this  nuisance? 

If  there  was  any  one  measure  that  would  stop  these  fires  we  could 
easily  be  persuaded  to  adopt  it,  but,  unfortunately,  there  is  no  such  spe- 
cific. There  is,  however,  much  that  we  can  all  do  and  the  following 
preventive  and  protective  measures  are  strongly  advocated. 

private  measures. 
The  OAvner  of  woodland,  Avhether  a  corporation  or  a  ])rivate  individ- 
ual, can  do  much  towards  protecting  his  property  from  fire,  though  to 
achieve  the  greatest  success  all  such  efforts  should  have  the  hearty 
co-operation  of  the  community  and  the  State.  Fire  lines  cleared  out 
around  or  through  a  property  are  very  effective  in  stopping  a  moderate 
fire.  When  a  strong  wind  is  blowing  and  the  fire  is  very  heavy,  such  a 
fire  line  is  invaluable  as  a  vantage  ground  from  which  to  start  a  back 
fire.  Adequate  fire  lines  can  be  constructed  at  from  $10  to  $50  per  mile, 
according  to  the  nature  of  the  ground  over  which  it  has  to  be  made. 
Such  a  fire  line  has  been  made  over  the  rough  mountain  country  of 
northeast  McDowell  County  at  less  than  the  higher  figure. 


Forest  Fires  and  their  Prevextiox.  23 

Patrol  is  probably  the  most  effective  single  means  tliat  the  individual 
can  put  into  practice,  though  quite  expensive.  Efficient  patrol  will  cost 
from  one  to  three  cents  per  acre  per  year.  Some  companies,  especially 
in  the  mountainous  part  of  the  State,  employ  one  or  more  men  to  look 
after  their  forest  land,  and  often  part  of  their  duty  is  patrolling.  If 
this  were  more  generally  practiced  many  fires  would  be  prevented,  and 
many  more  extinguished  before  they  had  gotten  beyond  control. 

Warning  notices,  calling  the  attention  of  the  passers-by  to  the  danger 
of  forest  fires,  are  used  to  a  large  extent  in  the  National  Forests  of  the 
West,  and  are  employed  on  many  of  the  private  or  corporate  holdings 
in  the  l^orth  and  East,  and  to  some  extent  in  the  South,  though  in  this 
State  they  are  little  used,  except  to  include  a  prohibition  against  setting 
fire  to  the  woods  in  a  general  trespass  notice.  A  carefully-worded  re- 
minder, posted  where  it  will  be  seen  and  read,  is  calculated  to  help 
materially  in  suppressing  the  ^'careless"  fir'e.* 

Farmers  can  do  much  to  prevent  the  disastrous, spring  fires  by  burn- 
ing in  the  winter  as  much  as  possible  what  brush  and  rubbish  it  is 
necessary  to  remove  in  this  way,  and  by  never  leaving  even  an  innocent- 
looking  fire  until  it  is  quite  out.  Renters,  who  very  often  own  no  land 
and  are  absolutely  irresponsible,  should  be  bound  by  a  contract  not  to 
set  out  fire  in  dry  Aveather.  If  every  renter  who  let  fire  escape  and 
burnt  up  his  landlord's  woods  were  in  the  future  denied  a  place  to  rent  in 
that  neighborhood,  this  class  of  offenders  would  learn  to  be  more  careful. 

A  stipulation  against  setting  fire  to  the  woods  should  always  be  in- 
cluded in  a  contract  for  the  sale  of  timber.  There  is  no  more  reason  for 
the  purchaser  of  mature  timber  to  destroy  all  the  reproduction  and 
young  growth  on  the  ground  by  fire  than  there  is  for  a  man  who  buys 
the  apple  crop  to  cut  down  and  destroy  an  orchard  in  order  to  harvest 
the  fruit,  and  the  sooner  landowners  realize  this  the  better  it  will  be  for 
their  interests. 

co-operative  associations. 

Co-operation  between  individuals  for  the  purpose  of  fire  protection 
adds  very  much  to  the  effectiveness  of  private  efforts.  The  individual 
suffers  as  much  and  sometimes  more  from  fires  that  start  beyond  his 
boundary  than  from  those  originating  on  his  land;  especially  if  he  is 
patrolling  and  his  neighbor  is  not.  Xo  matter  how  careful  a  man  may 
be  or  how  much  he  spends  on  fire  protection,  the  fires  that  originate  and 
develop  great  headway  before  they  come  onto  his  property,  can  not  be 
controlled.     Besides  the  attainment  of  efficiency  through  co-operation. 


•Fire  lines,  fire  patrol  and  fire  notices  are  more  fully  discussed  in  Economic  Paper  19,  "Forest  Fires 
North  Carolina  During  1909,"  pp.  43-47. 


24  Forest  Fires  and  their  Prevention. 

the  cost  of  protection  is  reduced  to  a  inininiuiu.  Oue  man  can  patrol 
much  more  territory  if  he  feels  responsible  for  all  the  area  that  comes 
within  his  vision  than  if  he  has  to  look  out  for  boundary  lines  and  his 
operations  are  restricted.  Some  form  of  co-oju'ration  is  essential  for  the 
most  successful  fire-fighting. 

The  value  of  co-operative  associations  has  been  pretty  clearly  demon- 
strated in  several  of  the  far  westeni  States  dui'ing  the  past  two  or  three 
years.  Two  separate  kinds  of  associations  for  forest  protection  have 
been  formed;  the  one  chiefly  educational,  the  other  engaging  in  the 
actual  protective  work. 

Associations  Chiefly  Educational: — The  Oregon  Forest  Fire  Associa- 
tion is  a  representative  of  this  class.  It  does  not  itself  engage  actively 
in  fire  work,  but  is  a  rather  loose  affiliation  of  individual  patrol  systems, 
each  doing  its  fire  work  independently,  but  using  the  central  facilities 
for  legislative  and  publicity  purposes  and  particularly  to  stimulate  the 
installation  of  further  individual  i)atrols.  The  formation  of  local  co- 
operative patrol  associations  is  also  encouraged.  In  fact,  its  main  pur- 
pose is  for  the  general  promotion  of  patrols  in  the  State,  of  giving  out 
information  regarding  the  best  methods  of  protection,  endeavoring  to 
induce  the  public  to  be  more  careful  in  the  use  of  fire,  and  tiying  to 
persuade  owners  to  maintain  patrols.  There  is  a  large  amount  of  Avork 
of  this  nature  to  be  done  and  it  will  belp  the  general  movement,  but  of 
course,  the  only  way  to  prevent  fires  is  to  have  patrolmen  on  the  ground. 
Such  an  association  denotes  a  less  advanced  stage  in  co-0])erative  effort — 
for  a  large  number  of  independent  patrols  cannot  etpial  systematic  co- 
operative management  of  the  work  in  either  economy  or  results — nor 
does  it  have  the  same  public  standing.  Moreover,  without  actual  work 
to  do  the  association  finds  it  hard  to  gain  members  or  preserve  its  solid- 
arity. Such  an  organization  in  North  Carolina  would  not  be  of  the 
greatest  value.  The  field  is  covered  already,  to  a  certain  extent,  by  tlie 
North  Carolina  Geological  and  Economic  Survey,  which  is  only  kej»t 
fz'om  doing  much  more  in  this  line  by  lack  of  funds. 

Associations  Chiefly  Protective: — What  is  wanted  among  timberland 
owners  in  North  Carolina  is  a  close  organization  which  can  go  ahead 
and  carry  out  ])atrol  and  other  means  of  protection.  This  is  being  done 
in  the  northwest  by  the  Washington  Forest  Fire  Association  and  the 
several  Idaho  timber  protective  associations,  which  latter,  it  is  gener- 
ally conceded,  afford  the  most  efficient  protection  in  the  country.  The 
organization  of  these  Associations  includes  a  board  of  directors  who 
have  power  to  levy  and  enforce  the  payment  of  assessments  to  defray 
expenses  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  acres  owned  by  each  member. 


Forest  Fires  axd  their  Preventiox.  25 

The  actual  work  of  protection  is  put  in  the  hands  of  a  committee  which 
hires  patrohnen  and  fire  fighters  and  incurs  all  other  expenses  necessary 
to  protect  the  territory  from  forest  fires.  In  one  of  the  most  successful 
of  these  Associations  the  patrol  averages  one  man  to  sixteen  thousand 
acres,  and  although  they  have  had  some  hazardous  seasons  their  loss  has 
always  been  very  small.  It  is  figured  that  it  is  a  better  policy  to  main- 
tain a  close  patrol  to  discover  small  fires  when  they  first  start  than  to 
cut  down  the  expense  of  the  patrol,  and  then  rely  upon  putting  a  large 
force  of  men  on  to  fight  fire  after  it  gets  well  started.  The  cost  of  this 
association  averages  about  three  cents  per  acre  per  year,  though  on 
account  of  a  very  exceptional  season  it  went  over  that  in  1910.  The 
total  cost  of  the  Washington  Forest  Fire  iVssociation  was  2.3  cents  per 
acre  in  1910,  and  only  1.4  cents  in  1909,  though  much  more  than  the 
acreage  belonging  to  members  Avas  patrolled,  in  order  to  better  protect 
their  own  lands. 

]^ot  only  do  these  associations  do  their  own  protective  work,  but  they 
co-operate  with  the  State  and  ISTational  Governments  in  fire  protection. 
In  ISTorth  Carolina  there  is  a  large  opening  for  this  feature  of  their 
work.  The  State  has  at  present  no  fire-fighting  force  with  which  to 
co-operate,  but  it  is  hoped  that  this  will  be  provided  for  by  the  next 
Legislature.  The  \J.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture,  however,  is  anx- 
ious to  spend  part  of  the  amount  provided  for  co-operation  Avith  States 
by  the  Weeks  bill  in  fire  protection  in  Xorth  Carolina.  It  Avas  sug- 
gested that  the  basis  of  such  co-operation  might  be  furnished  by  a 
Forest  ProtectiA'e  Association  Avorking  through  the  State  Geological  and 
Economic  Survey.  It  has  been  decided,  hoAA'ever,  that  this  does  not 
come  within  the  meaning  of  the  Act. 

There  are  endless  Avays  in  which  the  activities  of  such  an  Association 
could  Avork  for  the  better  protection  and  consequent  enhancement  in 
value  of  our  forests,  and  the  timberland  owners  of  the  State  are  recom- 
mended to  look  thoroughly  into  this  question  and,  if  possible,  make  trial 
of  this  method  of  protection. 

state  measures. 
Present  Laws. 
In  1777  the  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  passed  a  statute 
making  it  unlaAvful  for  any  one  to  set  fire  to  the  Avoods,  except  it  be  his 
OAvn  property,  and  in  that  case  not  Avithout  first  giving  tAA^o  days  notice 
in  AA'riting  to  adjoining  pro])erty  oAvners.  After  13-4  years  this  laAv  still 
remains  on  our  statute  books,  the  best  and  practically  the  only  laAv  Ave 
have  on  the  subject.    In  its  present  form  in  The  Revisal  of  1905  it  reads : 


26  Forest  Fires  axd  their  Prevention. 

334G.  Woods. — If  any  person  shall  set  lire  to  any  woods,  except  it  be  his  own 
property,  or,  in  that  case,  without  first  giving  notice  in  writing  to  all  persons 
owning  lands  adjoining  to  the  woodlands  intended  to  be  fired,  at  least  two  days 
before  the  time  of  firing  such  woods,  and  also  taking  effectual  care  to  extinguish 
such  fire  before  it  shall  reach  any  vacant  or  patented  lands  near  to  or  adjoining 
the  lands  so  fired,  he  shall,  for  every  such  offense,  forfeit  and  pay  to  any  person 
who  shall  sue  for  the  same  fifty  dollars,  and  be  liable  to  any  one  injured  in  an 
action,  and  sliall  moreover  be  guilty  of  a  misdi'ineanor. 

The  law  therefore  forhids  setting  fire  to  Avoods,  even  though  it  be 
one's  own  property,  Avithont  giving  tAvo  days  notice  in  Avriting  to  adjoin- 
ing landowners.  This  laAv  is  rarely  enforced,  because  the  "tAvo  days 
notice  in  writing"  is  considered  an  impractical  measure,  and  also  be- 
cause the  strong  objection  among  most  people  to  prosecuting  their 
neighbors  acts  as  a  deterrent.  One  of  the  most  frequent  causes  of  fire, 
that  from  burning  brush  while  clearing  up  ncAv  grounds  in  the  spring,  is 
not  covered  by  this  law,  for  the  courts  have  held  that  these  "new 
ground"  fires  do  not  come  within  the  statute.  This  laAv  is  susceptible  of 
considerable  improvement  and  should  be  amended. 

Since  the  great  extension  of  railroad  facilities  all  over  the  State,  the 
practice  of  hauling  farm  crops  and  merchandise  long  distances  to 
market,  which  used  to  be  the  universal  custom,  has  almost  ceased.  In 
the  rougher  and  more  remote  pai-ts  of  the  State,  hoAvever,  Avhere  more 
than  one  daA^'s  trip  is  required  to  reach  the  market  the  abandoned  camp- 
fire  is  still  a  menace.  That  Xorth  Carolina  has  a  laAV  against  leaving 
such  fires  unextinguished  is  often  not  knOAvn  by  Avagoners,  and  a  notice 
quoting  the  folloAving  section  posted  near  frequented  camping  places 
Avould  often  be  of  great  advantage  to  the  passer-by,  as  Avell  as  a  safe- 
guard to  the  property  OAvner. 

3347.  Wooflf!.  from  Co  tup  Fires. — If  any  wagoner  or  other  person  encamjjing 
in  the  open  air  shall  leave  his  camp  without  totally  extinguishing  the  camp  fire>;, 
he  shall  be  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  and  upon  conviction  thereof  shall  be  fined 
not  exceeding  fifty  dollars,  or  imprisoned  not  exceeding  thirty  days. 

These  tAvo  laAvs,  the  most  important  dating  back  some  130  years,  con- 
stitute the  present  working  forest-fire  laAvs  of  Xorth  Carolina.  Even 
these,  hoAvever,  are  rarely  enforced. 

In  order  to  ascertain  as  nearly  as  possible  to  Avhat  extent  these  laws 
were  being  carried  out,  the  Xorth  Carolina  Geological  and  Economic 
Survey  asked  all  their  forest-fire  correspondents  the  following  question : 
"Has  any  one,  so  far  as  you  know,  been  prosecuted  for  setting  fire  to 
forests  in  your  county  or  township  during  the  past  year?  If  so,  with 
Avhat  result  ?" 


Forest  Fires  axd  their  Preyextiox.  27 

This  question  was  answered  in  the  negative  by  195  of  the  correspond- 
ents. Out  of  the  218  who  answered  this  question  usually  in  one  word  as 
''Xo,"  '^Xone/'  or  "Nobody,"  only  23  mentioned  any  action  being  taken 
against  those  who  set  out  fire,  and  of  these  only  nine  could  have  been 
brought  under  the  law  against  setting  fires,  the  rest  being  civil  suits  for 
damages,  chiefly  against  railroads  and  lumber  companies.  The  sum 
total  of  convictions,  for  the  careless  or  intentional  setting  of  at  least 
700  fires  in  this  State  during  1910  is  four;  two  in  the  mountains,  in 
which  the  parties  were  "fined  light,  say  $5  each  and  costs,"  and  two  in 
the  Coastal  Plain  region,  one  of  whom  was  let  off  by  pa^dng  "good" 
costs;  and  the  other,  to  the  honor  of  Pitt  County  be  it  said,  was  given 
the  maximum  fine,  $50  and  costs.  The  other  suits  wei*e,  in  the  words 
of  the  correspondents,  "j^ol  prossed,"  "Compromised,  defendant  paying 
$37.50  damages,"  "Case  before  grand  jury,  hut  no  bill  found,"  "Xot  a 
true  bill/'  "Case  not  yet  tried." 

The  apparent  inefliciency  of  the  law  is  due  to  the  inadequacy  of  the 
laws  themselves  and  to  the  indifference  of  the  people  in  the  matter  of 
burning  the  woods.  This  is  well  illustrated  by  the  folloAving  replies 
from  a  few  of  the  correspondents  in  answer  to  the  above  question  in 
regard  to  prosecutions  under  the  fire  laws:  "IN'ot  one.  We  need  more 
stringent  laws  as  to  the  careless  handling  of  fire" ;  "]^^o  one.  ISTeed 
more  laAvs" ;  "Cannot  get  sufficient  i^roof  to  get  true  bill  or  convict"; 
"Xobody  prosecuted,  everybody  seems  to  be  afraid  to  prosecute  for  fear 
of  being  burned  out" ;  "I  think  not.  It  would  be  difficult  to  convict  as 
it  is  a  'sport'  engaged  in  by  a  large  percent  of  our  people";  "Xo ;  but 
ought  to  have  been";  "Don't  know  of  any.  They  are  hard  to  catch 
and  hard  to  convict  in  a  fence-law  territory" ;  "One  was  threatened  with 
prosecution" ;  "Xo ;  only  for  want  of  officers  to  enforce  the  law." 

The  General  Assembly  of  1909  passed  a  law  allowing  the  Governor, 
at  his  discretion  and  on  application  of  the  owner,  to  declare  any  wooded 
land  which  lies  above  2,000  feet  above  sea  level  a  "State  forest."  The 
Governor  may  then,  at  the  request  of  the  owner,  appoint  such  forest 
wardens  as  the  owner  of  the  land  may  request,  said  wardens  to  have  the 
power  of  arrest  without  warrant  and  to  be  paid  entirely  by  the  owner. 
For  this  privilege  the  landowner  pays  an  annual  tax  of  half  a  cent  per 
acre  into  the  county  treasury  for  the  benefit  of  the  school  fund. 

Xo  property  owner  has  yet  taken  advantage  of  this  law,  and  it  is  prac- 
tically a  dead  letter,  the  owners  probably  thinking  that  the  efficiency 
gained  by  giving  the  wardens  power  of  arrest  is  not  worth  such  a  sub- 
stantial tax. 


28  Forest  Fires  axd  their  Prevextiox. 

Prcrjjosed  La  us. 

As  we  liave  previously  seen,  the  largest  inuuber  of  fires  are  due 
to  the  carelessness  or  indifTerence  of  individuals,  and  to  the  negli- 
gence of  railroads,  lunibernien,  and  other  operators  of  engines.  In 
order  to  successfully  cope  with  this  situation,  Ave  need:  (1)  Better  laws 
to  control  the  private  citizen;  (2)  Stricter  regulations  controlling  the 
railroad  and  other  engine  users;  (3)  A  system  maintained  by  the  State, 
or  the  State  and  counties  together,  to  properly  enforce  the  forest-fire 
laws.  These  three  features  may  be  combined  in  one  act,  as  was  done  in 
the  bill  which  was  introduced  into  the  last  Legislature,  or  they  may  be 
passed  as  three  separate  acts,  as  is  here  proposed. 

Fires  Set  by  Private  Individuals: — The  present  law,  which  has  pre- 
viously been  "given,  should  be  amended  to  include  grassland,  bvit  the  two 
days  written  notice  required  should  apply  to  woods  only,  or  should  be 
eliminated  altogether.  B}''  broadening  the  second  section  to  make  it 
include  hunters  and  other  persons,  some  approach  to  controlling  that 
fertile  source  of  forest  fires  would  be  made. 

In  Xew  Jersey  and  several  other  States  to  the  north  and  west  of  us, 
the  burning  of  woods,  brush,  stumps,  rubbish  and  other  material  is  not 
allowed  during  a  dry  season,  and  in  some  cases  throughout  the  year, 
without  a  written  permit  from  the  proper  officer.  This  has  been  found 
to  work  well  in  preventing  fires,  especially  the  destructive  early  spring 
fires.  In  ^N^orth  Carolina,  however,  avc  are  hardly  ready  for  such  a 
law.  A  law  to  compel  all  who  burn  material  to  watch  it  till  it  is 
extinguished  would  seem  to  meet  a  definite  need  and  would  be  more 
easily  enforced. 

The  following  suggested  bill  contains  all  of  the  above  features: 

A  Bill  to  be  Extitled  Ax  Act  to  Protect  the  Fokests  of  This  State  fko.m 
Fire. 

The  Gericnil  Assinibhi  of  \nrlli   Cdiolhin   do  ninrl : 

Section  1.  Tliat  section  tliree  tlioiisiuul  tlirw  liuiulred  and  forty-six  of  The 
Revisal  of  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  five  be  amended  to  lead  as  follows:  If 
any  person  shall  set  fire  to  any  grassland,  brusliland  or  woodland,  except  it  he 
his  own  property,  or,  in  that  case  without  first  giving  notice  to  all  persons  o.vn- 
ing  or  in  charge  of  lands  adjoining  to  the  land  intended  to  he  fired,  and  al-o 
taking  care  to  watch  s\ich  fire  while  burning  and  tiiking  etVcclua]  rare  tu  cx- 
tinguish  such  fire  before  it  >liail  icacli  any  lands  iieai'  fi)  m-  adjniniiig  the  land 
so  fired,  he  shall  for  evfery  such  offense  be  guilty  of  a  niisdcnieaiior  and  I)e  fini-d 
or  imprisoned  in  the  discretion  of  the  court.  'Iliis  -hall  not  jirevcnt  action  for 
damages  sustained  by  the  owner  of  any  property. 

Sec.  2.  That  section  three  thousand  three  hundred  and  forty-seven  of  The 
Kevisal   of  one  thousnnd   nine   hundred    and    five   l)c   anicndcd    to    read    as  follows; 


Forest  Fires  and  their  Prevention.  29 

Any  wagoner,  hunter,  camper  or  other  person  who  shall  leave  a  camp-fire  without 
fully  extinguishing  it,  or  who  shall  accidentally  or  negligently,  by  the  use  of  any 
torch,  gun,  match  or  other  instrumentality,  or  in  any  manner  whatever,  start 
any  fire  upon  any  grassland,  brushland  or  woodland,  without  fully  extinguishing 
the  same,  shall  be  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  and  upon  conviction  shall  be  punish- 
able by  a  fine  of  not  less  than  twenty-five  dollars  nor  more  than  fifty  dollars  or 
imprisoned  not  exceeding  thirty  days. 

Sec.  3.  All  persons,  firms  or  corporations  who  shall  burn  any  tar  kiln  or  pit 
of  charcoal  or  set  fire  to  or  burn  any  brush,  grass  or  other  material  whereby  any 
property  may  be  endangered  or  destroyed,  shall  keep  and  maintain  a  careful  and 
competent  watchman  in  charge  of  said  kiln,  pit,  brush  or  other  material  while 
burning.  Any  person,  firm  or  corporation  violating  the  provisions  of  this  section 
shall  be  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor. 

Railroad  Fires. — The  railroads  and  lumber  conipaiiies,  though  great 
offenders,  having  caused  probably  one-third  of  the  fires  in  the  State 
in  1910,  are  also  great  sufferers,  being  generally  held  respoiisible  for 
injury  and  made  to  pay  damages.  A  few  of  the  replies  to  the  ques- 
tion asking  about  prosecutions  are  here  quoted :  "Railroad  paid  for 
several  acres  of  timber" ;  "Railroad  compromised,  nothing  done  about 
the'  rest" ;  "No ;  the  railroad  people  always  pay  damage" ;  "The 
railroad  has  paid  about  $1,000" ;  "Xo ;  Railroad  Company  paid  about 
$2,000" ;  "The  Railroad  Company  goes  over  the  ground  and  sees  how 
much  it  burns  over,  and  pays  about  thirty-five  cents  per  acre" ;  "Set  by 
traction  engine,  and  damage  paid" ;  "Lumber  Company  sued  for 
$5,000" ;  "Lumber  Company  forced  to  pay  damages" ;  "Suit  entered 
against  one  lumber  company."  These  prosecutions  are,  of  course,  as 
said  bei'ore,  brought  under  the  civil  law,  and  do  not  invoke  the  present 
fire  laws.  They  do,  however,  show  that  it  is  as  much  to  the  interest 
of  the  railroads  as  to  that  of  the  owners  of  woodland  that  fires  should 
be  prevented.  Until  there  is  some  general  demand,  howef'er,  that  the 
railroads  take  necessary  precautions,  they  prefer  to  drift  along  in 
the  old  way,  paying  damages  now  and  then, — the  average  cost  of  which 
they  know — rather  than  advocate  new  laws,  which,  though  they  might 
save  them  money,  still  would  cost  them  an  unknoAvn  amount  to  carry 
out.  When  reasonable  laws  are  once  passed  the  railroads  will  undoubt- 
edly co-operate  actively  in  their  enforcement,  trusting  thereby  to  cut 
down  their  large  annual  bill  of  damages. 

During  the  last  sesion  of  the  Legislature  the  following  bill  was  drawn 
up,  after  careful  discussion  and  criticism  of  every  point  by  the  repre- 
sentatives of  the  people  and  of  the  railroad  and  lumber  companies.  It 
was  at  first  introduced  as  part  of  the  general  forestry  bill,  but  was 
later  drawn  up  as  a  separate  law.  It  is  in  this  form  that  its  passage  by 
the  next  Legislature  is  strongly  urged. 


30  FoKEST  Fires  axd  theik  Prevention. 

A  Bill  to  be  Entitled  An  Act  to  Require  the  Railroads  of  the  State  to 
Take  Certain  Precautions  for  the  Prevention  of  Forest  Fires. 

The  General  Assenibli/  of  Xortli   Carolina  do  enact: 

Section  1.  All  persons,  Hnns  or  corporations  operating  any  railruad,  logging 
road  or  traniroad  through  woodland  within  this  State  shall  keep  their  right  of 
way  cleared  of  all  combustible  materials  within  a  horizontal  distance  of  one 
hundred  (100)  feet,  nowhere  to  exceed  one  hundred  and  fifty  (150)  feet  surface 
measurement,  from  the  outer  rail  on  each  side  of  the  track,  by  burning  or  otiior 
method.  Combustible  material,  as  referred  to  in  this  act,  shall  be  construed  to 
mean  only  such  brush,  grass,  leaves  or  other  material  tliat  would  ordinarily  be- 
come ignited  from  a  spark  from  the  engine.  \\  luii  the  right  of  way  owned  does 
not  extend  to  the  width  of  the  cleared  space  or  (ire  line  licrein  required,  the  right 
is  hereby  granted  to  said  persons,  firms  or  corporations  to  enter  upon  adjoining 
lands  not  owned  by  them,  for.  the  purpose  of  clearing  oflf  and  maintaining  the 
cleared  space  or  fire  line  herein  required.  If  any  landowner  should  object  to  the 
clearing  ofi"  and  maintenance  of  the  fire  line  herein  required,  he  shall  not  be  enti- 
tled to  collect  any  damages  thereafter  occurring  from  fires  caused  by  sparks  from 
the  engines  of  said  persons,  firms  or  corporati(jns.  Each  railroad,  logging  road 
or  traniroad  affected  hereby  shall  be  required  to  clear  off  each  year  not  more  than 
one-fifth  (1-5)  of  the  total  length  of  the  fire  line  required  by  this  section  until  all 
has  been  completed,  and  shall  continue  to  keep  such  fire  line  clear  after  it  has 
once  been  cleared  off.  The  part  of  the  mileage  to  be  cleared  off  by  such  railroad 
shall  l>e  designated  by  the  Geological  Board  after  conference  with  the  proper 
oflicer  of  such  railroad,  logging  road  or  traniroad.  Any  railroad  wilfully  violating 
the  provisions  of  this  section  shall  be  liable  to  a  penalty  of  not  less  than  ten 
($10.00)  dollars  or  more  than  twenty-five  ($25.00)  dollars  for  every  mile  or 
fraction  thereof  of  fire  line  not  cleared  according  to  the  provisions  of  this  section : 
Provided,  that  this  section  shall  not  be  construed  to  prohibit  or  prevent  any 
railroad  company  from  piling  or  keeping  upon  the  right  of  way,  crossties  or  other 
material  necessary  in  the  operation  or  maintenance  of  such  railroad  or  ntaterials 
intended  for  shipment  over  such  railroad;  nor  is  it  intended  to  require  the  re- 
moval of  buildings,  fences  or  other  necessary  or  vahmble  improvements  from  the  fire 
line  herein  required:  Provided  further,  that  tlie  notice  to  the  adjoining  landown- 
ers required  by  section  three  thousand  three  huiulrcil  and  forty-six  of  The  Re- 
visal  of  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  five  sliall  nnt  ai)i)ly  to  any  biniiini;  neces- 
sary to  carry  out  the  provisions  of  this  section:  I'roriilcd  fnrtlnr.  Ihat  nothing 
in  this  section  shall  be  construed  to  require  tlie  railroad  romiiaiiy  to  clear  the 
fire  line  on  property  not  owned  by  said  (■iiin])aiiy  ^lnmid  tlie  owner  oliject.  ami  no 
failure  on  this  account  shall  l)e  charged  against  tlie  railroad  coinijany  as  a  viola- 
tion of  this  act. 

Sec.  2.  When  engineers,  conductors  or  trainmen  employed  by  any  railroad 
discover  that  fences  or  other  material  along  the  right  of  way  or  woodland  ad- 
jacent to  the  railroad  are  burning  or  in  danger  from  fire,  they  shall  report  the 
same  promptly  at  the  ne.xt  telegraph  or  telephone  station  at  which  the  train  is 
.scheduled  to  stop,  or  at  any  other  stops  necessary  in  the  operation  of  the  train. 
The  reporting  of  such  fires  shall  not  be  construed  to  mean  that  the  lailroad  com- 
panies making  .such  report  are  responsible  for  such  fires,  nor  shall  smli  report  he 
used  in  evidence  in  a  suit  arising  from  such  fire,  but  is  simply  for  the  purpose  of 
giving  information  as  to  the  existence  of  a  fire.     In  seasons  of  drought  the  rail- 


Forest  Fires  and  their  Prevention.  31 

road  companies  shall  give  instructions  to  their  section  foremen  for  the  prevention 
and  prompt  extinguishing  of  fires  originating  on  their  right  of  way,  and  they 
shall  cause  warning  placards,  furnished  by  the  Geological  Board,  to  be  posted  at 
their  stations  in  the  vicinity  of  forest  lands.  Any  railroad  company  wilfully 
violating  the  requirements  of  this  section  shall  be  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  and 
railroad  employees  wilfully  violating  the  requirements  of  this  section  shall  be 
guilty  of  a  misdemeanor. 

Sec.  3.  For  the  purpose  of  this  act  woodland  is  taken  to  include  all  forest 
areas,  both  timber  land  and  cut-over  land,  and  all  second  growth  stands  on  areas 
that  have  at  one  time  been  cultivated. 

This  law  requires  the  railroads  to  clear  oif  a  strip  100  feet  wide  on 
each  side  of  their  track,  where  it  runs  through  woodland.  It  has  been 
demonstrated  after  careful  study  that  most  of  the  live  sparks  from  rail- 
road locomotives  fall  within  the  zone  between  50  and  100  feet  on  each 
side  of  the  track,  and  very  few  fall  beyond  that  distance.  Keeping  this 
strip  clear  would  then  prevent  most  of  the  fires  caused  by  railroads  and 
logging  roads,  Avhich,  as  we  have  seen  above,  constitute  about  one-third 
of  the  fires  in  the  State. 

Fire  Warden  System. — The  most  important  problem  in  the  formula- 
tion of  forest  laAvs  is  providing  effective  machinery  for  putting  them  into 
force.  Eighteen  States  have  already  organized  fire  protective  systems,  the 
purpose  of  which  is  to  enforce  the  forest-fire  laws  of  these  States.  Little 
or  nothing  has  been  accomplished  in  States  without  such  systems,  though 
several,  like  our  own,  have  some  excellent  laws.  A  fire  warden  system 
generally  consists  of  district,  township,  or  county  wardens,  who,  as  a  rule, 
are  responsible  to  some  one  State  official,  either  the  State  Forester,  the 
State  Forest  Commissioner,  or  State  Fire  Warden,  who  is  specific;  II7 
charged  with  fire-protective  work  and  usually  also  with  the  forestry 
work  of  the  State.  It  is  the  duty  of  the  Avardens  to  extinguish  fires, 
arrest  offenders  against  the  fire  laws,  investigate  the  causes  of  fires, 
post  warning  notices  against  fire  and  in  some  cases  to  patrol  the  forests 
during  dry  weather.  They  are  paid  by  the  State,  or  by  the  county,  or 
by  the  State  and  county  combined,  usually  by  the  hour  or  day,  for  the 
time  actually  employed.  In  fixing  a  rate  of  payment,  care  is  taken  not 
to  make  it  high  cnougli  to  tempt  unscrupulous  men  to  set  fire  to  the 
woods  with  the  object  of  drawing  pay  for  extinguishing  it.  This  prac- 
tice may,  of  course,  be  occasionally  resorted  to,  even  where  the  pay  is 
not  high,  but  an  efficient  county  fire  warden  would  soon  discover  the 
perpetrators  or  at  least  have  his  suspicions  aroused,  and  one  or  two 
drastic  sentences,  upon  conviction,  would  put  a  stop  to  the  practice. 
There  are  many  counties  in  JSTorth  Carolina  where  fire  wardens  are  not 


32  Forest  Fires  and  their  Prevention. 

needed,  but  in  counties  having  fifty  per  cent  and  over  of  their  area 
in  woodhuid  they  Avoukl  quickly  pay  for  their  cost.  If  only  a  few  coun- 
ties were  given  tlie  advantage  of  such  a  law  to  stail  with,  tlie  demand 
for  fire  wardens  would  rapidly  spread,  as  their  usefulness  became  appar- 
ent. The  following  hill,  in  a  somewhat  different  form,  was  introduced 
into  the  Legislature  of  1911,  but  failed  to  pass,  chiefly  because  a  special 
tax  of  half  a  cent  per  acre  on  all  woodlands  in  the  State  was  asked,  to 
provide  levenue  for  its  enforcement.  This  method  of  raising  the 
necessary  money  is  perfectly  fair  and  equitable,  but  until  the  system 
can  be  inaugurated  and  tested  in  those  counties  that  most  need  fire  pro- 
tection, it  is  thought  that  a  direct  ap])ropriation  would  be  much  simpler 
and  more  i)racticable. 

A  Bill  to  be  Entitled  An  Act  tq  Ai  tiiohizi;  tiik  Ari'oiNT.MKXT  and  Pay.mk.nt 
OF  FoRE.sT  Wardens. 

The  General  As.senihli/  of  XortJi   Varoliiio  do  enact: 

Section  1.  On  petition  of  four  or  more  owners  of  timlier  lands  in  any  one 
township,  owning:  in  the  aggregate  five  thousand  acres  or  more,  or  the  owners  of 
one-third  of  tiie  forest  hind  in  the  township,  the  comity  conunissioners  shall 
appoint,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  Geological  Board,  a  forest  warden  for  that 
township  and  as  many  deputj'  forest  wardens  to  act  with  liim  as  the  Geological 
Board  may  deem  necessary  for  the  proper  enforcement  of  this  act.  All  forest 
wardens  and  deputy  forest  wardens  must  be  legal  residents  of  tlic  counties  in 
which   they    are   employed. 

Sec.  2.  Forest  wardens  and  deputy  forest  wardens  sliall  have  cliaige  of  meas- 
ures for  controlling  forest  fires;  they  shall  make  arrests  for  violations  of  the 
forest  laws:  shall  post  along  highways  and  in  other  conspicuous  places  copies  of 
the  forest  fire  laws  and  warnings  against  fires  which  shall  be  supplied  by  the 
Geological  Board;  and  they  shall  perform  s\ich  other  duties  as  shall  be  consid- 
ered necessary  by  the  (Geological  Board  for  tlie  protection  of  forests.  The  forest 
wardens  of  the  township  in  which  a  fire  occurs  shall  within  ten  day^  make  such 
rej)ort  thereof  to  the  Geological  Board  as  may  be  prescribed  by  tlicm.  Each 
deputy  forest  warden  shall  promptly  report  to  wardens  any  tire  in  liis  district. 

Sec.  3.  Any  person  who  shall  maliciously  or  wilfully  dcstioy.  deface,  remove 
or  disfigure  any  sign,  poster  or  warning  notice,  postc<]  by  ordci-  of  the  Geological 
Board  under  the  provisions  of  this  or  other  act  for  tlie  purpose  of  protecting  the 
forests  in  this  State  from  tiif.  shall  be  guilty  of  a  misdcuicauoi-  and  upon  con- 
viction shall  be  puiiisliabje  by  a  line  of  not  less  liian  t<'n  dollars  or  more  tlian 
fifty  dollars  or  iinprisdiicd  not  exceeding  thirty  days. 

Sec.  4.  Any  poson  discovering  any  forest  fire  shall  imuicdiatety  give  notice 
to  the  nearest  forest  warden  or  deputy  forest  warden  in  tliat  or  adjoining  town- 
shi])s.  All  able-bodied  male  persons  between  eighteen  and  foity-tive  years  of  age 
can  be  summoned  by  forest  wardens  or  deputy  forest  wardens  to  assist  in  e.x- 
tinguishing  forest  fires  and  shall  be  paid  for  such  services  at  a  rate  not  to  exceed 
fifteen  do)  cents  per  hour.  Any  person  summoned  by  a  forest  warden  or  his 
deputy  and  not  attending,  without  reasonable  excuse,  shall  be  subject  to  a  fine 
of  five   ($5)   dollars. 


FO'^EST    FlBES    AXD   THEIR    PrEVEXTION.  33 

Sec.  5.  Forest  wardens  and  deputy  forest  wardens  shall  have  the  same  power 
as  deputy  sheriffs,  so  far  as  the  provisions  of  this  act  are  concerned.  Neither 
forest  wardens  nor  their  deputies  shall  be  liable  for  trespass  while  acting  in  the 
performance  of  their  duties,  nor  shall  any  person  be  held  guilty  of  trespass  for 
going  on  lands  when  summoned  by  an  ofiBcer  to  control  fire. 

Sec.  6.  Forest  wardens  and  deputy  forest  wardens  shall  receive  compensation 
from  the  State  at  the  rate  of  twenty  cents  per  hour  for  the  time  actually  engaged 
in  the  performance  of  their  duties  and  reasonable  expenses  for  equipment  and 
transportation  incurred  in  fighting  or  extinguishing  any  fire,  according  to  an 
itemized  statement  to  be  rendered  the  Geological  Board  every  month  and  approved 
by  them.  Forest  wardens  shall  render  to  the  Geological  Board  a  statement  of 
the  services  rendered  by  the  men  employed  by  them  or  their  deputy  wardens,  as 
provided  in  this  act,  within  one  month  of  the  date  of  service,  which  said  bill  shall 
show  in  detail  the  amount  and  character  of  the  service  performed,  the  exact 
duration  thereof,  the  name  of  each  person  employed,  and  any  other  information 
required  by  the  Geological  Board.  If  said  bill  be  duly  approved,  it  shall  be  paid 
by  direction  of  the  Geological  Board  out  of  the  State  Treasury;  and  the  State 
Treasurer  is  hereby  authorized  and  required  to  collect  one-half  of  the  wages  and 
expenses  incurred  by  the  forest  wardens  and  deputy  forest  wardens  under  this 
section  and  section  three  (3)  of  this  act,  from  the  county  in  which  they  arc 
incurred. 

Sec.  7.  The  svun  of  ten  thousand  dollars  annually  is  hereby  appropriated,  out 
of  any  moneys  in  the  treasury  not  otherwise  appropriated,  for  the  purpose  of 
carrying  out  the  provisions  of  this  act,  the  same  to  be  drawn  upon  as  directed 
by  the  Geological  Board. 

XATIOXAL    ilEASrRES. 

Co-operation-  Under  the  ^Yeel•s  Bill: — With  the  recent  passage  by 
Congress  of  the  ^V^eeks  Bill  (Pub.  Xo.  435)  "to  enable  any  State  to  co- 
operate with  any  other  State  or  with  the  United  States  for  the  protec- 
tion of  the  watersheds  of  navigable  streams,  etc."  an  opportunity  has 
been  opened  to  secure  fire  protection,  for  at  least  the  mountain  portion 
of  the  State,  at  one-half  the  actual  cost  of  such  protection.  This  bill 
provides,  among  other  things,  as  follows : 

Sec.  2.  That  the  sum  of  two  hundred  thousand  dollars  is  hereby  appropriated 
and  made  available  until  expended,  out  of  any  moneys  in  the  national  treasury 
not  otherwise  appropriated,  to  enable  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture  to  co-operate 
with  any  State  or  group  of  States,  when  requested  to  do  so,  in  the  protection 
from  fire  of  the  forested  watersheds  of  navigable  streams;  and  the  Secretary  of 
Agriculture  is  hereby  authorized,  and  on  such  conditions  as  he  deems  wise,  to 
stipulate  and  agree  with  any  State  or  group  of  States  to  co-operate  in  the  organi- 
zation and  maintenanc-e  of  a  system  of  fire  protection  on  any  private  or  State 
forest  lands  within  such  State  or  States  and  situated  upon  the  watershed  of  a 
navigable  river:  Provided,  that  no  such  stipulation  or  agreement  shall  be  made 
with  any  State  which  has  not  provided  by  law  for  a  system  of  forest  fire  protec- 
tion: Provided  further,  that  in  no  case  shall  the  amount  expended  in  any  State 
exceed  in  any  fiscal  year  the  amount  appropriated  by  that  State  for  the  same 
purpose  during  the  same  fiscal  year. 
3 


34  Forest  Fires  and  their  Pkevextiox. 

Under  this  law  tlie  Federal  Govenunent  is  empowered  to  co-operate 
with  the  various  States  in  the  organization,  direction,  and  extension  of 
a  fire  protective  system,  by  putting  in  a  sum  of  money  equal  to  that 
appropriated  by  the  State  for  this  purpose.  It  can,  however,  only 
co-operate  with  States  which  have  some  form  of  State  fire  protection 
already.  Xortli  Carolina  has  no  such  system,  and  though  the  Federal 
officials  have  sliowed  a  strong  desire  to  spend  part  of  this  money  in  this 
State,  nothing  can  be  done  to  take  advantage  of  this  proffered  co-opera- 
tion until  a  regular  State  system  of  fire  protection  can  be  established. 
Should  the  Legislature  in  1913  pass  a  law  like  that  suggested  on  pages 
32-33,  appropriating  $10,000  for  fire  protection,  an  equal  sum  might, 
under  the  Weeks  law,  be  procured  from  the  Federal  Government,  making 
$20,000,  with  which  a  good  start  could  be  made  towards  the  prevention 
of  forest  fires  in  Xorth  Carolina. 

Owners  of  forest  land  should  make  every  effort  to  take  advantage  of 
this  great  opportunity  by  seeing  to  it  that  men  actively  in  favor  of 
forest  protection  are  nominated  aud  elected  to  the  next  General  As- 
sembly. 

EDUCATIONAL  MEASURES. 

The  majority  of  our  people  have  been  raised  where  there  was  always 
abundance  of  wood  for  fuel  and  for  other  local  necessities,  and  Avhere 
the  selling  of  timber  oft'  the  land  has  been  looked  upon  as  something 
extra  made  over  the  ordinary  income.  Timber  has  never  been  rated  at 
its  true  value,  namely,  its  cost  value  to  grow,  because  there  has  been 
abundance  of  timber  ready  grown  to  our  hand.  It  is  not  strange  then 
that  there  is  so  much  indifference  to  the  growing  necessity  of  fire  pro- 
tection. Economic  conditions  have  been  changing  so  rapidly  of  late 
years  that  it  is  only  those  who  are  in  close  touch  with  the  markets  of 
the  country  and  w^ho  are  studying  the  progress  of  events  that  realize  the 
necessity  for  conservation  of  our  forests. 

A  campaign  of  education  along  these  lines  must  be  carried  on  all  over 
the  State,  not  only  to  show  the  property  owners  themselves  and  the  other 
groAvn  citizens  that  it  is  to  their  interest  and  that  of  their  children  to 
protect  and  perpetuate  the  forests;  but  also  and  probably  chiefly,  to 
educate  the  children,  to  bring  them  up  to  realize  that  a  new  condition 
exists,  and  that  the  trees  and  the  forests  are  really  growing  crops,  and 
very  necessary  and  valuable  crops,  and  that  as  such  they  require  care 
and  attention  as  much  as  any  farm  crop. 

The  children  of  today  are  the  proi)erty  owners  and  lawmakers  of 
tomorroAV,  so  while  we  do  not  cease  to  advocate  forest  protection 
amongst  the  present-day  citizens,  let  us  at  the  same  time  train  our 
future  citizens  to  appreciate  its  necessity. 


Forest  Fires  and  their  Prevention.  35 

arbor  day. 

Probably  tbe  best  and  most  attractive  as  well  as  tlie  most  practical  way 
just  at  present,  to  inculcate  a  knowledge  and  love  of  trees  among  even  the 
smallest  cbuldren,  is  to  make  the  observance  of  Arbor  Day  an  annual 
feature  in  all  the  schools  of  the  State.  This  would  reach  all  of  the  chil- 
dren of  the  State  once  each  year  and  would  give  them  information  in  a 
form  in  which  it  would  be  remembered. 

FcAv  children,  or  grown  people  either  for  that  matter,  can  distinguish  a 
longleaf  from  a  shortleaf  pine  seedling,  know  the  conditions  most  favor- 
able for  the  best  growth  of  even  our  commonest  forest  trees,  or  can  tell 
one  oak  or  one  pine  from  another  by  the  bark,  the  buds,  the  leaves  or  the 
fruit. 

In  order  to  foster  a  love  of  trees  among  children  and  to  teach  them 
elementary  facts  about  them,  as  well  as  to  encourage  the  planting  of 
trees  and  the  intelligent  care  of  forests  by  their  elders,  the  practice  of 
observing  Arbor  Day  has  been  introduced  into  nearly  every  State  in  the 
Union,  and  in  many  States  it  is  a  legal  school  festival.  In  ISTorth  Caro- 
lina the  day  was  observed  as  far  back  as  1893,  but  unfortunately  it  has 
never  received  general  recognition.  Only  a  school  here  and  there  has 
observed  the  day  with  appropriate  exercises,  when  some  of  the  teachers 
or  patrons  have  been  especially  interested  in  the  subject. 

In  1896  the  School  Committee  of  the  town  of  Durham  passed  a  law 
providing : 

Section  1.  That  tlie  second  Friday  in  April  of  each  year  shall  hereafter  be 
known  in  the  Durliam  Public  Schools  as  Arbor  Day. 

Sec.  2.  In  order  that  the  children  in  our  jniblic  schools  shall  assist  in  the 
work  of  adorning  the  school  grounds  with  trees,  shrubs  and  flowers,  to  develop 
and  stimulate  a  love  and  reverence  for  nature,  to  inculcate  economic  and 
testhetic  purposes  which  will  result  in  beautifying  the  home  and  increasing  the 
comfort  and  happiness  of  our  people,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Superintendent  of 
Schools  to  provide  for  and  conduct  such  exercises  as  shall  best  accomplish  these 
results. 

An  Arbor  Day  program  was  prepared  and  published  in  a  twelve-page 
leaflet.  This  program,  as  carried  out  on  April  10,  1896,  is  here  given, 
by  headings,  in  order  to  convey  to  those  who  have  never  attended  such  a 
celebration  some  idea  of  how  attractively  it  may  be  carried  out. 

Durham  Public  Schools. 

ARBOR  DAY. 

Assembly  Hall,  April  10,  1896. 

1.  Music Orchestra 

2.  Arbor  Daj^  Song. 

3.  Responsive  Exercises   (in  the  words  of  Scripture). 


36  POREST    FiRKS    AND   THEIR    PrEVE>-TION. 

4.  Prayer    (to  be  recited   in  coiieert). 

5.  Music    Orcliestra 

6.  Class  Exercise,  Telling'  About  Arlx)r  Day. 

(a)  What  is  Arbor  Day? 

(6)  Tell  sonietliinji;  of  the  origin  of  Arbor  Day. 

(c)  Why  do  we  observe  Arbor  Day? 

(d)  Why  do  you  name  your  trees  for  some  celebrated  person? 

(e)  How  are  books  and  trees  related? 

(/)     Tell  me  something  about  tree  religion. 

(</)    What  about  trees  as  living  things? 

( /; )    ^^■hy  should  the  forests  be  preserved  ? 

((I     What  do  we  get  from  the  forests? 

I  j  I     "^  ou  haven't  told  me  anything  about  flowers. 

(A)    What  trees  do  you  think  the  best  for  school  grounds? 

( / )     Tell  me  how  to  jilant  a  tree,  size,  etc. 

7.  Some  Things  said  About  Ohscrvinu-  Arbor  Day. 

8.  Song  of  Dedication. 

9.  Reading — The  Tree  of  the  Field  is  Man's  Life. 

10.  Reading— The  Talk  of  a  Tree. 

11.  Music    Orche>tra 

12.  Recitation — Selections  from  Bryant,  Irving,  Emerson,  and  others. 

13.  Recitation — Resolution  Protesting  Against  the  Destruction  of  Trees. 

14.  Exercise — The  Arbor  Day  Queen. 

15.  Reading  Letters  About  Arbor  Day  from  Distiiiguislied  North  Carolinians. 
10.  Recitation — The  Woodman  and  the  Tree. 

17.  Music     Orcliestra 

18.  Song — The  Chorus  of  the  Flowers. 

19.  Acrostic — Arbor  Day. 

20.  Song — Love  of  Nature. 

21.  March — Washington  Post. 

22.  Exercises  at  the  Tree. 

(Pupils  from  each  schoolroom  march,  to  ihc  school  grounds,  fire  of  the 
class  carrying  spades,  the  liandlcs  being  decorated  with  school 
colors — ichite  and  orange — and  form  a  circle  around  the  spot  where 
the  tree  is  to  be  planted.) 

(a)    Placing  the  tree  in  position. 

ib)   Tree  planting  Song. 

(c)  A  brief  statement  by  the  teaclier  concerning  the  persim  to  whom  the 
tree  is  dedicated. 

(d)  Recital  of  quotations  from  writings  of  persons  thus  honored. 

(e)  Pupils  place  the  soil  around  the  tree  with  their  spades. 
if)    Marcli  to  class  room. 

Recently  the  Forester  of  the  North  Carolina  Geological  and  Economic 
Survey  Avas  invited  to  make  an  address  at  an  Arbor  Day  celebration  at 
Southern  Pines,  in  which  the  whole  town  took  a  gratifying  interest. 
The  Civic  Club,  an  organization  of  the  women  of  the  place,  was  the 
prime  mover,  while  the  teachers  and  the  school  children  united  with 
the  club  to  make  the  occasion  a  great  success.     Trees  and  shrubs  Avere 


Forest  Fires  and  their  Prevention. 


37 


planted  on  the  school  grounds  in  the  morning  and  in  the  afternoon 
drills,  songs,  and  recitations,  illustrating  the  child's  relation  to  the  trees 
and  flowers  around  him,  were  very  well  given  by  the  children  in  the 
large  school  auditorium. 

Such  a  celebration  might  be  held  annually  by  every  school  in  the 
state  with  great  profit  to  the  children,  and  with  increasing  interest  on 
the  part  of  the  parents.  There  is  a  growing  tendency  among  the  men 
to  leave  the  education  of  the  children  more  and  more  to  the  women,  and 
the  next  generation  will  have  special  cause  to  bless  their  mothers  for 
opening  their  eyes  to  the  beauty  and  usefulness  of  the  trees  if  the 
women,  who,  through  their  clubs  are  doing  such  good  work  for  civic  im- 
provement and  the  betterment  of  education,  would  take  up  this  matter 
all  over  the  State  and  work  for  a  general  Arbor  Day  observance. 

In  most  States  some  special  day  is  selected  as  Arbor  Day  by  the  Gov- 
ernor or  Superintendent  of  Education,  or  some  other  authority,  and  all 
schools  are  expected  to  observe  that  particular  day.  In  North  Carolina, 
where  the  school  year  varies  so  in  the  different  counties,  and  where  the 
time  for  planting  trees  varies  with  the  different  regions  of  the  State,  it 
would  probably  be  better  for  each  County  Superintendent,  or  even  each 
School  Principal,  to  set  the  day  which  would  be  most  convenient  to  him 
and  most  appropriate  to  the  season  and  locality.  Where  only  a  summer 
and  fall  school  session  is  given,  October  in  the  mountains,  I^ovember  in  the 
Piedmont  section,  and  December  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State  would 
be  suitable  times,  while  where  a  nine  or  ten  months  school  is  the  rule, 
March  or  x\pril  would  be  more  suitable,  as  children,  and  older  folks  too, 
for  that  matter,  naturally  turn  to  the  woods  and  fields  in  the  spring- 
time. Some  Friday  would  usually  be  selected  as  interfering  less  with 
the  routine  of  school  work,  though  such  interference  really  often  turns 
out  to  be  rather  a  help  than  hindrance  to  the  work. 

FORESTRY    IN    THE   PUBLIC   SCHOOLS. 

There  are  two  ways  in  which  Forestry  can  be  taught  in  the  Public 
Schools  without  adding  another  course  to  the  already  crowded  curricu- 
lum :  first,  by  means  of  an  auxiliary  reader ;  and  second,  by  correlating 
the  various  phases  of  Forestry  with  those  courses  taught  in  the  school 
which  are  naturally  connected  with  it. 

1.  The  present  system  in  l^orth  Carolina  requires  the  use  of  "basal" 
readers  in  the  various  grades.  These  are  supplemented  by  auxiliary 
readers  on  a  great  variety  of  subjects,  such  as:  geography,  household 
economics,  etc.  The  use  of  these  is  optional,  the  County  Superintend- 
ent or  the  Principal  deciding  on  the  subject  which  will  be  most  helpful 


38  Forest  Fires  and  their  Prevention. 

to  each  particular  class.  So  far  there  is  no  auxiliary  reader  on  the  sub- 
ject of  Forestry,  or  even  on  the  more  general  and  comprehensive  subject 
of  Conservation.  There  is  room  for  a  book  of  this  character,  and  it  is 
to  be  hoped  that  one  will  shortly  be  provided.  Such  a  book  should  set 
forth  in  simple  language  the  fundamental  principles  of  Conservation 
and  then  show  how  these  are  related  to  the  economics  of  everyday  life. 

2.  In  his  circular  "Forestry  in  the  Public  Schools"  (Circular  130, 
Forest  Service,  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture),  Prof.  Hugo  A. 
Winkenwerder  advocates  and  outlines  plans  for  the  study  of  Forestry 
in  connection  Avith  studies  Avhich  are  already  being  taught.  He  states 
that  the  object  of  this  circular  is  to  indicate  to  teachers  Avho  are  inter- 
ested the  courses  in  which  Forestry  deserves  a  place  and  to  assist  them 
in  choosing  the  proper  subject-matter.  A  description  of  the  location, 
extent,  and  character  of  the  forests  of  the  locality  in  which  the  teaching 
is  done,  of  the  State,  and  of  the  country  as  a  whole,  should  form  part 
of  the  study  of  geography  as  taught  in  all  the  common  or  secondary 
schools  of  I^J'orth  Carolina.  Their  economic  value  as  sources  of  useful 
products,  for  conservation  of  water,  for  protection,  and  their  influence 
on  erosion  and  soil  protection,  as  well  as  their  fcsthetie  value,  should  be 
brought  out  as  well  as  the  necessity  of  forest  protection,  especially 
for  protecting  them  from  fire.  Nature  study,  where  it  is  taught, 
opens  the  way  for  some  elementary  forestry ;  in  fact,  the  study 
of  the  trees,  the  shrubs,  and  the  seedlings  found  in  the  woods  is  the  most 
attractive  foi-m  of  nature  study,  and  develops  very  rapidly  the  habit  of 
observation,  which  is  the  chief  object  aimed  at  in  all  such  training.* 

In  the  High  Schools,  along  with  United  States  History,  can  be 
taught  the  importance  of  the  forests  to  our  development,  the  growth  of 
the  forestry  movement,  and  of  the  National  Forest  Policy.  The  pro- 
tection of  forest  property  and  the  policies  relating  to  public  lands 
should  form  a  part  of  the  course  in  Civics.  A  course  in  physical  geog- 
raphy is  not  complete  without  considering  the  relation  of  forests  to 
climate;  the  influence  of  forests  upon  water  and  soil  conditions;  the 
relation  of  forests  to  erosion,  and  to  reclamation.  Commercial  geog- 
raphy must  include  the  importance  of  forests  as  a  national  resource,  the 
distribution  of  forests,  the  products  of  the  forest  and  the  influence  of 
forestry  on  commerce.  It  is  impossible  to  enumerate  the  opportunities 
which  the  forest  offers  to  teachers  of  botany. 

In  the  farm-life  schools  and  others  of  a  similar  nature  practical  for- 
estry should  be  one  of  the  important  studies,  and  the  school-farm  should 


*A  special  circular,  "Forestry  in  Nature  Study,"  issued  by  the  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture, 
gives  outlines  of  instruction  in  this  subject  for  all  terms  and  grades  in  the  public  schools. 


Forest  Fires  and  their  Prevextiox.  39 

fumisli  sufficient  area  in  woods  to  give  practical  work  in  forest  man- 
agement. Xearly  all  Xortli  Carolina  farms  contain  a  large  proportion 
of  woodland,  and  it  is  as  important  for  farmers  to  know  how  the  yield 
may  be  increased  on  this  as  on  the  cleared  land. 

FORESTRY   IX    THE    COLLEGES. 

In  order  to  bring  this  important  problem  before  the  young  men  who 
are  yearly  leaving  our  higher  institutions  of  learning  to  take  part  in 
the  management  of  the  State,  courses  in  Forestry  should  be  given  in  all 
our  colleges  and  in  the  State  University.  Complete  courses  are  not  re- 
quired, but  enough  should  be  taught  to  give  the  students  some  idea  of 
the  forest  problems  that  confront  us  and  the  best  way  to  deal  with  them. 
In  the  A.  &  M.  Colleges  more  complete  instruction  should  be  given; 
courses  calculated  to  give  the  student  a  knowledge  of  how  to  manage 
a  wood-lot,  how  to  measure  and  sell  standing  timber  and  log  it  if  neces- 
sary, how  to  protect  the  forest  from  fire  and  insects,  what  trees  to  plant 
and  hoAv,  when,  and  where  they  should  be  planted.  According  to  the 
President  of  the  A.  t^-  M.  College,  who  would  be  glad  to  add  a  course  in 
Forestry  to  the  curriculum,  only  one  additional  man  would  be  required 
for  this  purpose.  The  same  is  true  of  the  State  University.  Courses  in 
Botany,  Entomology,  and  Engineering  are  now  given  at  both  institu- 
tions. By  adapting  such  courses  to  the  needs  of  the  forester  and  then 
founding  a  Chair  of  Forestry  proper,  which  would  include  silviculture, 
forest  management,  and  lumbering,  an  excellent  course  in  Forestry 
could  be  given.  Funds  for  the  foundation  of  such  a  chair,  however,  are 
not  available  at  either  place,  and  probably  will  not  be  until  a  more  gen- 
eral demand  for  such  a  course  is  made.  The  timber  crop  is  second  only 
in  importance  to  the  cotton  crop  in  Xorth  Carolina,  and  most  farmers 
have  a  larger  acreage  in  woodland  than  in  all  other  crops  combined.  It 
seems,  therefore,  that  more  recognition  should  be  given  this  subject  in 
our  State  Agricultural  College,  as  well  as  in  the  State  University. 

LECTURES   AT    FARMERS*   IXSTITI'TES,    ETC. 

It  is  not  only  through  the  Farm  Schools  and  the  A.  k  M.  College  that 
the  State  is  trying  to  teach  the  farmer  improved  methods.  For  several 
years  past  it  has  been  sending  experts  to  all  the  counties  of  the  State  to 
lecture  on  improved  methods  of  farming,  from  soil  improvement  to 
poultry-keeping.  The  timber  crop  is  the  only  subject  that  has  been  en- 
tirely omitted  from  the  list  of  subjects  discussed.  A  talk  on  forest  man- 
agement or  forest  protection  should  be  included  in  every  program,  for 
the  subject  is  of  the  greatest  importance  to  most  farmers.     Latterly  the 


40  Forest  Fires  axd  their  Prevention. 

Forester  of  tlie  Xorth  Carolina  Geological  and  Economic  Survey  has 
joined  one  of  the  parties  in  the  western  part  of  the  State  for  a  short 
time  each  summer  and  talked  to  the  meetings  on  this  subject,  but  this  is 
only  a  very  small  beginning.  An  extension  of  this  work  all  over  the 
State  is  strongly  advocated. 

But  lecture-work  need  not  be  confined  to  the  colleges  and  the  fanners' 
institutes.  Addresses  should  be  made  all  over  the  State  as  opportunity 
offers,  and  forest  protection  advocated  before  all  kinds  of  audiences.  K'ot 
till  the  people  begin  to  think  about  the  subject  will  they  realize  the  im- 
portance of  immediate  action. 

forestry  associations. 
On  February  1,  1911,  a  Forestry  Convention  met  in  Raleigh  for  the 
purpose  of  discussing  proposed  forestry  legislation.  Though  the  attend- 
ance was  not  large  it  was  quite  representative.  Delegates  from  eighteen 
counties  of  North  Carolina  were  present,  including  lumbermen,  furni- 
ture manufacturers,  railroad  men,  timberland  owners,  farmers,  forest- 
ers and  educators.  The  forestry  bills  then  before  the  Legislature  Avere 
discussed  in  detail,  and  much  interest  Avas  shown  in  them,  as  Avell  as  in 
a  State-wide  stock  law.  A  new  forestry  bill  Avas  draAvn  up  at  the  meet- 
ing, Avhich  it  was  recommended  be  substituted  "for  the  two  already  in- 
troduced. This  bill,  Avhich  combined  all  the  features  in  the  three  laAvs 
suggested  on  pages  28,  30,  and  32,  Avas  later  introduced  in  both  houses, 
but  failed  to  pass.  The  folloAving  resolutions  Avere  adopted  by  the  con- 
vention : 

Whereas,  It  lias  been  estimated  that  tliere  is  in  Xorth  Carolina  snllicient 
forest  land  to  maintain  perpetually  a  supply  of  raw  material  for  our  furniture 
factories,  our  pulp  mills,  and  our  tanning  extract  plants,  if  these  forests  are  con- 
served and  protected  from  fire;  and. 

Whereas,  The  forests  of  North  Carolina  and  the  industries  dependent  upon 
them  represent  about  one-sixth  of  the  wealth  of  Xorth  Carolina;  and, 

Whereas,  These  forests  are  being  deA-astated  by  frequent  fires,  causing  enor- 
mous present  and  future  loss  to  the  OAvners  of  forest  land  and  indirectly  to  the 
people  throughout  the  Avhole  State;  therefore. 

Be  it  resolved,  That  we  thoroughly  endorse  legislation  that  will  protect  our 
forests  from  fire,  and  urge  the  General  Assembly  to  pass  such  measures  as  will 
enable  those  portions  of  the  State  that  desire  it,  adequate  fire  protection  for  their 
forests;  and  as  the  best  results  can  only  be  obtained  when  the  stock  law  is  in 
force, 

Be  it  further  resolved,  That  we  endorse  a  State-Avide  stock  law  for  Xorth  Caro- 
lina, with  a  provision  allowing  any  territory  voting  for  that  purpose  to  be  ex- 
empted therefrom  upon  erecting  proper  fence  around  such  exempted  territory. 

Be  it  further  resolved.  That  Ave  advocate  the  teaching  of  the  principles  of 
forestry  in  the  public  schools  and  the  introduction  of  a  course  in  forestry  in  the 
A.  &  M.  College. 


Forest  Fires  and  their  Prevention.  41 

Such  a  meeting  as  this  is  calculated  to  do  a  great  deal  to  advance  the 
cause  of  forest  protection  by  awakening  interest  in  the  question  and  by 
unifying  effort.  With  these  ends  in  view  it  was  unanimously  decided 
to  organize  the  convention  into  a  permanent  body  to  be  known  as  the 
North  Carolina  Forestry  Association,  this  association  to  have  a  Presi- 
dent, Secretary-treasurer,  and  one  Vice-President  for  every  Senatorial  _ 
District  in  the  State  in  which  sufficient  interest  in  forestry  had  been 
manifested.  The  work  of  the  Association  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  an 
Executive  Committee,  consisting  of  the  President,  Secretary-treasurer, 
and  five  other  members,  to  be  appointed  the  first  year  by  the  president 
of  the  Association.  The  object  and  aim  of  the  association  was  declared 
to  be  "the  protection  and  perpetuation  of  the  forests  of  ISTorth  Carolina." 
Dr.  D.  H.  Hill,  of  the  A.  &  M.  College,  Kaleigh,  was  elected  President 
of  the  Association,  and  Mr.  J.  S.  Holmes,  Forester  of  the  N'orth  Caro- 
lina Geological  and  Economic  Survey,  Chapel  Hill,  Secretary-treasurer. 
The  President  subsequently  appointed  the  following  gentlemen  as  mem- 
bers of  the  Executive  Committee :  Col.  B.  Cameron,  Raleigh ;  Mr.  Clar- 
ence Poe,  editor  Progressive  Farmer,  Raleigh;  Dr.  J.  H.  Pratt,  State 
Geologist,  Chapel  Hill;  Mr.  H.  M.  Shaw,  president  Southern  Wheel 
Company,  Oxford;  and  Mr.  E.  B.  Wright,  manager  Butter's  Lumber 
Company,  Boardman,  jST.  C.  The  very  fact  that  such  prominent  men 
are  behind  this  movement  speaks  well  for  its  future  success  and  use- 
fulness, and  also  inspires  the  confidence  of  the  public  in  any  recommen- 
dations it  may  make. 

The  organization  of  county  or  district  associations,  in  connection 
with  this  State  Association,  to  stir  up  and  direct  local  sentiment,  would 
do  more  to  make  the  society  effective  and  to  forward  the  forestry  move- 
ment than  any  other  kind  of  work  that  could  be  undertaken.  The  good 
roads  movement  has  received  its  greatest  impetus  from  town  and  county 
good  roads  associations,  though  the  State  organizations  have  done  splen- 
did work.  In  the  same  way  local  forestry  clubs,  societies,  or  associa- 
tions, or  forestry  branches  of  other  bodies,  acting  in  accord  with  the 
State  Association,  may  do  a  great  work  in  educating  the  people  to  a 
realization  of  the  importance  of  forest  protection.  There  are  forestry 
sections  of  several  of  the  women's  clubs  in  the  State  that  are  doing  good 
educational  work,  and  the  number  might,  Avith  advantage,  bq  increased. 
Different  phases  of  forestry  will  appeal  to  different  organizations ;  street 
planting  to  civic  clubs,  protection  of  watersheds  and  regulation  of 
stream  flow  to  Chambers  of  Commerce  and  Boards  of  Trade,  perpetua- 
tion of  the  timber  supply  to  labor  organizations  and  lumbermen,  the 
management  of  the  wood-lot  to  Farmers'  Clubs;  but  protection  of  the 
forests  from  fire  should  appeal  to  all. 


42  Forest  Fires  and  their  Prevention. 

demonstration  forests. 

One  iiiofliod  of  educating  the  public  in  iniprovod  methods  of  forest 
management  which  is  Avidely  practiced  in  Europe  and  has  been  adopted 
by  several  of  the  northern  States  is  by  the  proper  management  of 
State  Forests.  In  different  parts  of  the  State  areas  of  land  of  larger 
or  smaller  extent  are  acquired  by  gift  or  purchase,  or  reserved  by  the 
State  for  the  purpose  of  demonstrating  the  most  practical  form  of  man- 
agement for  that  particular  locality  and  for  that  kind  of  forest,  and  on 
which  to  conduct  experiments  to  determine  practical  questions  in  forest 
management.  In  many  ^ases  land  is  given  or  bequeathed  to  the  State 
by  public-spirited  citizens  for  this  purpose. 

If  the  people  can  be  shown  the  results  of  proper  treatment  of  the 
forests  in  successful  fire  protection,  conservative  lumbering,  profitable 
tree  planting,  and  advantageous  thinnings,  more  would  be  accomplished 
than  by  countless  lectures  and  bulletins.  On  an  area  in  the  high  moun- 
tains experiments  might  be  made  to  determine  the  best  way  to  cut 
spruce  for  pulp  while  insuring  the  perpetuation  of  these  forests.  In  the 
mountain  hardwood  forests  methods  to  increase  the  proportion  of  pop- 
lar, chestnut,  and  other  valuable  species  in  the  second  growth  might  be 
demonstrated.  In  the  Piedmont  region  the  profits  in  judicious  thinning 
of  shortleaf  pine  stands  could  be  shown.  In  the  Coastal  Plain  region 
successful  reproduction  of  longleaf  pine  might  be  demonstrated  and  ex- 
periments made  to  determine  whether  longleaf  or  loblolly  pine  was  the 
most  profitable  tree  to  grow  on  certain  types  of  soil.  On  "the  Banks" 
the  fixation  of  drifting  sand  by  forest  growth  could  be  shown  by  plant- 
ing up  the  sand  dunes,  and  the  profitable  use  of  such  areas  made  appar- 
ent by  propagation  of  turpentine  yielding  pines.  All  such  demon- 
strations, besides  their  value  for  experiments  and  for  showing  improved 
methods  of  forest  management,  involve,  of  necessity,  adequate  fire  pro- 
tection, and  the  successful  accomplishment  of  this  alone  would  make  the 
acquirement  and  management  of  such  demonstration  forests  justifiable, 
and  fnllv  compensate  the  State  for  their  cost. 

COXCLUSIOX. 

Reports  from  correspondents  in  but  one-third  of  the  townships  of  the 
State  give  an  estimated  area  of  580,000  acres  of  woodland  burnt  over 
during  1910,  Avith  a  consequent  loss  of  over  half  a  million  dollars  in 
timber  and  personal  property.  If  the  losses  from  this  cause  in  the  re- 
maining townships  could  be  ascertained,  and  the  enormous  damage  to 
young  growth,  soil  and  streams  could  be  computed,  it  is  very  certain 
that  the  total  loss  to  North  Carolina  by  forest  fires  for  the  past  year 


FoKEST  Fires  and  their  Prevention.  43 

would  reach  a  million  dollars.  jSTot  only  this,  but  a  loss  of  five  human 
lives  was  caused  directly  by  these  same  fires,  which  were  in  large  part 
due  to  carelessness,  and  might  and  should  have  been  prevented. 

In  1909  the  damage  from  forest  fires  amounted  to  several  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  and  every  year  it  is  much  the  same,  and  w^ill  continue 
to  be  the  same  until  N'orth  Carolinians  wake  up  and  take  some  active 
steps  to  stop  this  destruction. 

There  is  pressing  need  for  more  effective  laws  to  protect  the  forests 
from  fires  resulting  both  from  the  railroads  and  from  individuals.  Such 
laws  when  enacted  must  have  the  support  of  the  people,  or  they  can  not 
be  efficiently  enforced.  What  is  needed  in  this  as  in  other  lines  of  busi- 
ness is  education.  The  timber  crop  is  second  only  in  importance  to  the 
cotton  crop  in  North  Carolina,  and  occupies  ten  times  the  acreage  of 
that  staple,  yet  there  is  not  one  school  or  college  in  the  State  in  which 
even  elementary  forestry  is  taught.  Is  it  any  wonder  that  the  people 
show  such  indifference  to  forest  destruction?  A  more  general  interest 
in  forest  protection  must  be  aroused  and  more  definite  knowledge  of 
practical  forestry  methods  imparted  to  both  the  young  and  the  older> 
citizens  of  the  State,  and  this  can  best  be  done,  by  teaching  the  princi- 
ple of  forestry  in  our  schools  and  colleges. 


PUBLICATIONS 

OF   THE 

NORTH  CAROLINA  GEOLOGICAL  AND  ECONOMIC  SURVEY 


BULLETIN  S. 


1.  Iron  Ores  of  North  Carolina,  by  Henry  B.  C.  Xitze,  1893.  8°,  239  pp.,  20 
pi.,  and  map.     Postage  10  cents. 

2.  Building  and  Ornamental  Stones  in  Xorth  Carolina,  by  T.  L.  Watson  and 
F.  B.  Laney  in  collaboration  with  George  P.  Merrill,  1906.'  8°,  283  pp.  32  pi., 
2  figs.     Postage  25  cents.     Cloth-bound  copy  30  cents  extra. 

3.  Gold  Deposits  in  Xorth  Carolina,  by  Henry  B.  C.  Xitze  and  George  B.  Hanna, 
1890.     8°,  196  pp.,  14  pi.,  and  map.     Out  of  print. 

4.  Eoad  Material  and  Road  Construction  in  Xorth  Carolina,  by  J.  A.  Holmes 
and  William  Cain,  1893.     8°,  88  pp.     Out  of  print. 

5.  The  Forests,  Forest  Lands  and  Forest  Products  of  Eastern  Xorth  Carolina, 
by  W.  W.  Ashe,  1894.     8°,  128  pp.,  5  pi.     Postage  5  cents. 

6.  The  Timber  Trees  of  Xorth  Carolina,  by  Gilford  Pinchot  and  W.  W.  Ashe, 
1897.     8°,  227  pp.  22  pi.     Postage  10  cents. 

7.  Forest  Fires:  Their  Destructive  Work,  Causes  and  Prevention,  by  W.  W. 
Ashe,  1895.     8°,  66  pp.,  1  pi.     Postage  5  cents. 

8.  Waterpowers  in  Xorth  Carolina,  by  George  F.  Swain,  Joseph  A.  Holmes  and 
E.  W.  Myers,  1899.     8°,  362  pp.,  16  pi.     Postage  16  cents. 

9.  Monazite  and  Monazite  Deposits  in  Xorth  Carolina,  by  Henry  B.  C.  Xitze, 
189.5,  8°,  47  pp.,  5  pi..    Postage  Jf  cents. 

10.  Gold  Mining  in  Xorth  Carolina  and  Other  Appalachian  States,  bv  Henry 
B.  C.  Xitze  and  A.  J.  Wilkins,  1897.     8°,  164  pp.,  10  pi.     Postage  10  cents. 

11.  Corundum  and  the  Basic  Magnesian  Rocks  of.  Western  Xorth  Carolina,  by 
J.  Volney  Lewis,  1895.     8°,  107  pp.,  6  pi.     Postage  4  cents. 

12.  History  of  the  Gems  Found  in  Xorth  Carolina,  by  George  Frederick  Kunz, 
1907.     8°,  60  pp.,  15  pi.     Postage  S  cents.     Cloth-bound  copy  .30  cents  extra. 

13.  Clay  Deposits  and  Clay  Industries  in  Xorth  Carolina,  by  Heinrich  Ries, 
1897.     8°,  157  pp.,  12  pi.     Postage  10  cents. 

14.  The  Cultivation  of  the  Diamond-back  Terrapin,  by  R.  E.  Coker,  1906.  8°, 
07  pp.,  23  pi.,  2  figs.     Postage  6  cents. 

15.  Experiments  in  Oyster  Culture  in  Pamlico  Sound,  Xorth  Carolina,  bv 
Robert  E.  Coker,  1907.     8°,  74  pp.,  17  pi.,  11  figs.     Postage  6  cents. 

16.  Shade  trees  for  Xorth  Carolina,  by  W.  W.  Ashe,  1908.  8°,  74  pp..  10  pi., 
16  figs.     Postage  6  cents. 

17.  Terracing  of  Farm  Lands,  by  W.  W.  Ashe,  1908.  8°,  38  pp.,  6  pi.,  2  figs. 
Postage  Jf  cents. 

IS.  Bibliography  of  Xorth  Carolina  Geology.  Mineralogy  and  Geography,  with 
a  list  of  Maps,  by  Francis  Baker  Laney  and  Katherine  Hill  Wood,  1909.  8°,  428 
pp.     Postage  25  cents. 

19.  The  Tin  Deposits  of  the  Carolinas,  by  Joseph  Hvde  Pratt  and  Douslass  B. 
Sterrett,  1905.     8°,  64  pp.,  8  figs.     Postage  k  cents. 

20.  Waterpowers  of  Xorth  Carolina:  An  Appendix  to  Bulletin  8,  1910.  8°, 
383  pp.     Postage  25  cents. 

21.  The  Gold  Hill  Mining  District  of  Xorth  Carolina,  bv  Francis  Baker  Laney, 
1910.     8°,  137  pp.,  23  pi.,  5  figs.     Postage  15  cents. 

22.  A  Report  of  the  Cid  Mining  District,  Davidson  Countv,  X.  C,  by  J.  E. 
Pogue,  Jr.,  1911.     8°,  144  pp.  22  pi.,  5  figs.      Postage  15  cents'. 


46  Publications. 

ECONOMIC    I'AI'KKS. 

1.  The  Maple-sugar  Industry  in  Western  North  Carolina,  l.y  \V.  W.  Ashe.  1807. 
S°,  34  pp.     Postage  2  cents. 

2.  Recent  Road  Lefjislation  in  North  Carolina,  by  .T.  A.  llolmcs.     (tut  of  print. 
.3.  Talc  and  Pyrophyllite  Deposits  in   North  Carolina,  hy   .Toseph   Hyde   Pratt. 

1900.     8",  21)  pp.,  2  maps.     Postage  ,i  cents. 

4.  The  Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina  During  1000,  by  .loseph  Hyde  Pratt, 

1001.  8°,  3(>  i)p..  and  map.     Postage  2  cents. 

Takes  up  in  some  detail  Occurrences  of  Gold,  Silver,  Lead  and  Zinc.  Copper,  Iron,  Manganese,  Cor- 
undum, Granite,  Mica,  Talc,  Pyrophyllte,  Graphite,  Kaolin,  Gem  Minerals,  Monazite,  Tungsten, 
Building  Stones,  and  Coal  in  North  Carolina. 

5.  Road  Laws  of  North  Carolina,  by  .1.  A.  Holmes.     Out  of  inint. 

(5.  The  Mining  Industry  in  North  Candina  During  1001.  by  Joseph  Hvde  Pratt, 

1002.  8°,  102  pp.     Postage  .',  cents. 

Gives  a  list  of  Minerals  found  in  North  Carolina;  describes  the  Treatment  of  Sulphuret  Gold  Ores, 
giving  Localities;  takes  up  the  Occurrence  of  Copper  in  the  Virgilina,  Gold  Hill,  and  Ore  Knob  districts; 
gives  Occurrence  and  Uses  of  Corundum;  a  List  of  Garnets,  describing  Localities;  the  Occurrence, 
Associated  Minerals,  Uses  and  Localities  of  Mica;  the  Occurrence  of  North  Carolina  Feldspar,  with 
-■Vnalyses;  an  extended  description  of  North  Carolina  Ciems  and  Gem  Minerals;  Occurrences  of  Mon- 
azite, Barjtes,  Ocher;  describes  and  gives  Occurrences  of  Graphite  and  Coal;  describes  and  gives 
Occurrences  of  Building  Stones,  including  Limestones:  describes  and  gives  Uses  for  the  various  forms 
of  Clay;  and  under  the  head  of  "Other  Economic  Minerals"  describes  and  gives  Occurrences  of 
Chroinite,  Asbestos  and  Zircon. 

7.  Mining   Industry   in   North   Carolina   During   1002,   by   Joseph  Hyde  Pratt, 

1003.  8°,  27  pp.     Postage  2  cents. 

8.  The  Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina  During  1003,  by  Joscpli  Hyde  Pratt, 

1004.  8°,  74  pj).     Postage  //  cents. 

Gives  decsriptions  of  Mines  worked  for  Gold  in  1903;  descriptions  of  Properties  worked  for  Copper 
during  1903,  together  with  assay  of  ore  from  Twin-Edwards  Mine;  Analyses  of  Limonite  ore  from  Wil- 
son Mine;  the  (Occurrence  of  Tin;  in  some  detail  the  Occurrences  of  Abrasives;  Occurrences  of  Monazite 
and  Zircon;  Occurrences  and  Varieties  of  Graphite,  giving  Methods  of  Cleaning;  Occurrences  of  Marble 
and  other  forms  of  Limestone;  .\nalyses  of  Kaolin  form  Barber  Creek,  ,Jaekson  Count.v,  North  Carolina. 

0.  The  Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina  During  1004.  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt, 
1905.     8°,  05  pp.     Postage  //  cents. 

Gives  Mines  Producing  Gold  and  Silver  during  1903  and  1004  and  .Sources  of  the  Gold  Produced  during 
1904;  describes  the  mineral  Chromite,  giving  Analyses  of  Selected  Samples  of  Chromite  from  Mines 
in  Yancey  County;  describes  Commercial  Varities  of  Mica,  giving  the  manner  in  which  it  occurs  in 
North  Carolina,  Percentage  of  Mica  in  the  Dikes,  Methods  of  Mining,  Associated  Minerals,  Localities, 
L^ses;  describes  the  mineral  Bayrtes,  giving  Method  of  Cleaning  and  Preparing  Barytes  for  Market; 
describes  the  use  of  Monazite  as  used  in  connection  with  the  Preparation  of  the  Bunsen  Burner,  and 
goes  into  the  u.se  of  Zircon  in  connection  with  the  Nernst  Lamp,  giving  a  List  of  the  •Principal  Yttrium 
Minerals;  describes  the  minerals  containing  Corundum  Gems,  Hiddenite  and  Other  (iem  .Minerals, 
and  gives  New  Occurrences  of  these  Gems;  describes  the  mineral  Graphite  and  gives  new  Uses  for  same. 

10.  Oyster  Culture  in  North  Carolina,  i)y  Robert  E.  Coker,  1005.  8°,  30  jjp. 
Postage  2  cents. 

11.  The  :Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina  During  1005.  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt. 
1001).     S°,  95  pp.     Postage  4  cents. 

Describes  the  mineral  Cobalt  and  the  principal  minerals  that  contain  Cobalt;  Corundum  Localities; 
Monazite  and  Zircon  in  considerable  detail,  giving  Analyses  of  Thorianite;  describes  Tantalum  Minerals 
and  gives  description  of  the  Tantalum  Lamp;  gives  brief  description  of  Peat  Deposits;  the  manufacture 
of  Sand-lime  Brick;  Operations  of  Concentrating  Plant  in  Black  Sand  Investigations;  gives  Laws 
Relating  to  Mines,  Coal  Mines,  Mining,  Mineral  Interest  in  Land,  Phosphate  Rock,  Marl  Beds. 

12.  Investigations  Relative  to  the  Shad  Fisheries  of  Nortli  Carolina,  by  John 
N.  Cobb,  1000.     8°,  74  j)p.,  8  maps.     Postage  (>  cents. 

13.  Report  of  Conunittee  on  Fisheries  in  Nortii  Carolina.  Coiui)iled  bv  Joseph 
Hyde  Pratt,  100(1.     8°,  78  pp.     Postage  .'/  cents. 

14.  The  Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina  During  lOOO,  ])y  .loscpli  Hyde  Pratt, 
1007.     S°,  144  pp.,  20  pl.,'and  5  figs.     Postage  10  cents. 

Under  the  head  of  "Recent  Changes  in  Gold  Mining  in  North  Carolina,"  gives  methods  of  mining, 
describing  Log  Washers,  .Square  Sets,  Cyanide  Plants,  etc.  and  dctaili'il  ilcsiriplions  i)f  Gold  Deposits 
and  Mines  are  given;  Coi>per  Deposits  of  Swain  ( 'i)Uiit.\- an- ilescrilicd;  Mica  Deposits  of  Western  North 
Carolina  are  described,  giving  Distribution  and  General  Character,  (icneral  (ieology,  Occurrence, 
Associated  Minerals,  Mining  and  Treatment  of  .Mica,  Origin,  together  with  a  description  of  many  of 
the  mines;  Monazite  is  taken  up  in  considerable  detail  as  to  Location  and  Occurrence,  Cieology,  includ- 
ing classes  of  Rocks,  Age,  Associations,  Weathering,  method  of  Mining  and  Cleaning,  description  of 
Monazite  in  Original  Matrix. 


Publications.  47 

15.  The  Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina  During  1007,  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt, 
190S.     8°,  176  pp.,  13  pi.,' and  4  figs.     Postage  1')  cents. 

Takes  up  in  detail  the  Copper  of  the  Gold  Hill  Copper  District;  a  description  of  the  Uses  of  Mona- 
zite  and  its  Associated  Minerals;  descriptions  of  Ruby,  Emerald,  Beryl,  Hiddenite,  and  Amethyst 
Localities;  a  detailed  description  with  Analyses  of  the  Principal  Mineral  Springs  of  North  Carolina; 
a  description  of  the  Peat  Formations  in  North  Carolina,  together  with  a  detailed  account  of  the  Uses 
of  Peat  and  the  Results  of  an  Experiment  Conducted  by  the  United  States  Geological  Survey  on  Peat 
from  Elizabeth  City,  North  Carolina. 

16.  Report  of  Convention  called  by  Governor  R.  B.  Glenn  to  Investigate  the 
Fishing  Industries  in  Xorth  Carolina,  compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State 
Geologist,  1908.     8°,  45  pp.     PosUuje  ',  cents. 

17.  Proceedings  of  Drainage  Convention  held  at  Xew  Bern.  Xorth  Carolina, 
September  9,  1908.  Compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  1908.  8°,  94  pp.  Postage 
5  cents. 

18.  Proceedings  of  Second  Annual  Drainage  Convention  held  at  Xew  Bern, 
Xorth  Carolina,  Xovember  11  and  12,  1909,  compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  and 
containing  Xorth  Carolina  Drainage  Law,   1909.     8°,  50  pp.     Postage  3  cents. 

19.  Forest  Fires  in  Xorth  Carolina  During  1909,  by  J.  S.  Holmes,  Forester, 
1910.     8°,  52  pp.,  9  pi.     Postage  5  cents. 

20.  Wood-using  Industries  of  Xorth  Carolina,  by  Roger  E.  Simmons,  under  the 
direction  of  J.  S.  Holmes  and  H.  S.  Sackett,  1910.  8°,  74  pp.,  6  pi.  Postage 
7  cents. 

21.  Proceedings  of  the  Third  Annual  Drainage  Convention,  held  under  Auspices 
of  the  Xorth  Carolina  Drainage  Association;  and  the  Xorth  Carolina  Drainage 
Law  (codified).  Compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  1911.  8°,  67  pp.,  3  pi.  Post- 
age 5  cents. 

22.  Forest  Fires  and  their  Prevention,  Including  Forest  Fires  in  Xorth  Caro- 
lina During  1910,  by  J.  S.  Holmes,  Forester,  1911.    8°,  48  pp.    Postage  5  cents. 


Vol.  I.  Corundum  and  the  Basic  INIagnesian  Rocks  in  Western  Xorth  Candina, 
by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt  and  J.  Volney  Lewis,  1905.  8°,  464  pp.,  44  pi.,  35  figs. 
Postage  32  cents.     Cloth-bound  copy  30  cents  extra. 

Vol.  II.  Fishes  of  Xorth  Carolina,  by  H.  M.  Smith.  1907.  8°,  453  pp.,  21  pi.. 
188  figs.     Postage  30  cents. 

Vol.  III.  The  Physiography  and  Geography  of  the  Coastal  Plain  Region  of 
Xorth  Carolina.     In  Press. 

BIEXXIAL    REPORTS. 

First  Biennial  Report,  1891-1892,  J.  A.  Holmes,  State  Geologist,  1S93.  8°,  111 
pp.,  12  pi.,  2  figs.     Postage  6  cents. 

Administrative  report,  giving  Object  and  Organization  of  the  Survey:  Investigations  of  Iron  Ores, 
Building  Stone,  Geological  Work  in  Coastal  Plain  Region,  including  supplies  of  drinking-waters  in 
eastern  counties.  Report  on  Forests  and  Forest  Products,  Coal  and  Marble  Investigations  of  Diamond 
Drill. 

Biennial  Report,   1893-1894,  J.  A.   Holmes,   State  Geologist,   1894.     8°,   15   pp. 
Postage  1  cent. 
Administrative  report. 

Biennial   Report,    1895-1896,   J.  A.   Holmes,   State  Geologist.   1896.     8°,    17    pp. 
Postage  1  cent. 
Administrative  report. 

Biennial   Report,    1897-1898,   J.  A.   Holmes,   State  Geologist,    1898.     8°,   28    pp. 
Postage  2  cents. 
Administrative  report. 

Biennial   Report.    1899-1900,   J.   A.   Holmes,   State   Geologist,    1900.     8°,   20   pp. 
Postage  2  cents. 
Administrative  report. 

Biennial   Report,    1901-1902,  3.   A.   Holmes,   State  Geologist.    1902.     8°.    15    pp. 
Postage  1  cent. 
Administrative  report. 


48  Publications. 

Biennial  Eeport,   1903-1904.  J.   A.  Holmes,  State  Geologist,   1905.     8°,   32   pp. 
Postage  2  cents. 
Administrative  report. 

Biennial  Report,  19Q5-1906,  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist,  1907.  8°,  00 
pp.     Postage  S  cents. 

Administrative  report:  report  on  certain  swamp  lands  belonging  to  the  .State,  by  \V.  W.  Ashe;  it  also 
gives  certain  magnetic  observations  at  North  Carolina  stations. 

Biennial  Report,  1907-1908,  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist,  1908.  8°,  GO 
pp.,  2  pi.     Postage  5  cents. 

.Administrative  report.  Gives  special  report  on  an  Examination  of  the  Sand-banks  along  the  North 
Carolina  Coast,  by  Jay  F.  Bond,  Forest  .\ssistant.  United  States  Forest  Service;  certain  magnetic  ob- 
servations at  North  Carolina  stations;  Results  of  an  Investigation  Relating  to  Clam  Cultivation,  by 
Howard  E.  Enders,  of  Purdue  University. 

Biennial  Report,  1900-1910,  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist,  1911.  8°, 
152  pp.     Postage  10  cents. 

Administrative  report,  and  contains  Agreements  for  Co-operation  in  Statistical  Work,  and  Topo- 
graphical and  Traverse  Mapping  Work  with  the  United  States  Geological  .Survey;  Forest  Work  with 
the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture  (Forest  Service);  List  of  Topographic  maps  of  North 
Carolina  and  counties  partly  or  wholly  topographically  mapped;  description  of  special  Highways  in 
North  Carolina;  suggested  Road  Legislation;  list  of  Drainage  Districts  and  Results  of  Third  Annual 
Drainage  Convention;  Forestry  reports  relating  to  Connolly  Tract;  Buncombe  County,  Transylvania 
County  .State  Farm,  certain  Watersheds,  Reforestation  of  Cut-over  and  .\bandoned  Farm  Lands, 
on  the" Woodlands  of  the  Salem  Academy  and  College;  Recommendations  for  the  Artificial  Regenera- 
tion of  Longleaf  Pine  at  Pinehurst;  Act  regulating  the  use  of  and  for  the  Protection  of  Meridian  Monu- 
ments and  Standards  of  Measure  at  the  several  county-seats  in  North  Carolina;  list  of  Magnetic  Declin- 
ation at  the  county-seats,  January  1,  1910;  letter  of  Fish  Commis.sioner  of  the  United  States  Bureau 
of  Fisheries  relating  to  the  conditions  of  the  North  Carolina  fish  industries;  report  of  the  Survey  for  the 
North  Carolina  Fish  Commission  referring  to  dutch  or  pound-net  fishing  in  Albemarle  and  Croatan 
sounds  and  Chowan  River,  by  Gilbert  T.  Rude,  of  the  United  States  Coast  and  Geodetic  Survey;  His- 
torical Sketch  of  the  several  North  Carolina  Geological  Surveys,  with  list  of  publications  of  each. 


Samples  of  any  mineral  found  in  the  State  may  be  sent  to  the  office  of  the 
Geological  and  Economic  Survey  for  identification,  and  the  same  will  be  classified 
free  of  charge.  It  must  be  understood,  however,  that  no  assays,  or  quantita- 
tive EXAMINATIONS,  WILL  BE  .MADE.  Samples  should  be  in  a  lump  form  if  possi- 
ble, and  marked  plainly  on  outside  of  package  with  name  of  sender,  post-office 
address,  etc.;  a  letter  should  accompany  sample  and  stamp  should  be  enclosed  for 
reply. 


These  publications  are  mailed  to  libraries  and  to  individuals  who  may  desire 
information  on  any  of  the  special  subjects  named,  free  of  charge,  except  that  in 
each  case  applicants  for  the  reports  should  forward  the  amount  of  postage  needed, 
as  indicated  above,  for  mailing  the  bulletins  desired,  to  the  >S7a/e  Geologist, 
Chapel  Hill,  W.  C. 


DEPARTMENT  OF 
CONSERVATION  AND  DEVELOPiAENi. 


